May 6, 2015 - The driver of a vehicle on FM 415 was arrested after emergency personnel was dispatched to a car fire on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 where the vehicle crashed by the roadway.
When the Center Fire Department arrived the car was completely engulfed in flames. As the fire truck arrived the firemen quickly began pulling hoses and putting water to the fire. The flames were quickly quenched and the firemen prevented the fire from spreading into the woods where the vehicle had come to rest. While putting out the remainder of the flame the firemen discovered a canine passenger had perished in the vehicle.
ACE EMS, Texas Department of Public Safety and Kurtes Lawrence, Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy, also arrived at the scene soon after the firemen. Once the driver was cleared by EMS, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Jade LaVergne began her investigation during which the driver of the vehicle was placed under arrest.
According to DPS Trooper LaVergne, sometime just before 4:38pm a maroon 2001 4-door sport utility vehicle Hyundai driven by Ernest Young, 48, of Timpson was traveling on FM 415 toward FM 138 when he failed to maintain a single lane in a curve and left the roadway to the right before striking a tree and rolling the vehicle. The vehicle caught fire after it came to rest.
Young showed signs of intoxication once DPS Trooper LaVergne arrived and was subsequently arrested for driving while intoxicated due to poor performance on field sobriety tests provided.
The Center Fire Department and local passersby helped with traffic control and held the scene until the vehicle was towed.
