December 2, 2015 - Emergency crews were dispatched to a wreck on State Highway 87 South just north of Shelbyville on Sunday, November 29, 2015 at 9:45pm in which the vehicle was impaled on a fence and was reported to be on fire.
F
irst to arrive at the scene were Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies Bradley Horton, Michael Griffin and Jamie Hagler, Constable Precinct 2. When the officers arrived, the driver was no longer in the vehicle and appeared to be uninjured in the crash. While the car had been emitting smoke, it was determined there was no fire.
Austin Nelams and Tristin Wilburn were also traveling on Highway 87 at the time of the crash and bore witness to what happened when the driver left the roadway to the left.
As evidenced by damage at the scene, the silver 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis crossed onto the west barrow ditch where it struck a mailbox and traveled over a culvert. The Mercury then drove into a pipe fence, owned by Tommy Wilburn, with its left side and as it continued traveling along the fence stripping the top rail from posts, the top rail separated and impaled the passenger side of the windshield as well as the front passenger door window.
Traveling for another 40 yards, the Mercury continued to topple posts as it rode the rail, while the rear end of the car became somewhat submerged in a pond to which the fence ran parallel before coming to a halt.
Nelams exited his vehicle and assisted the driver in escaping from the car. The Shelbyville Volunteer Fire Department and Center Fire Department were both dispatched to the scene and the departments worked together as Center Fireman Glenn Johnson used a saw to cut the pipe and free the Mercury from the fence. Jason Burch with Hughes Wrecker was then able to pull the car free of the water.
ACE EMS transported the driver Daraymoss Arnez Lister, 33, of Center to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for precautionary measure and was later released. Lister was issued a citation for unsafe speed and was also arrested on a warrant for possession of weapon.
The crash was investigated by Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jeff Pirtle.
