July 23, 2020 - FM 417 East was the scene of a single-vehicle crash Wednesday morning, July 23, 2020, where the driver remained trapped for an extended period of time until fire personnel were able to cut him free of the vehicle.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jonathan Stinson, at 8:15am troopers were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of FM 417 and FM 2694 where it was reported the driver was trapped.
It was determined a black 2009 BMW 325i driven by Jonathan Gomez, 19, of Center with a 16 year-old passenger was westbound on FM 417 when he approached a curve at an unsafe speed, traveled across the roadway and struck a tree on the other side of FM 417.
Once extricated from the vehicle, Gomez and his passenger were transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital with possible injuries.
Gomez was issued a citation for unsafe speed.
Center Fire Department fire personnel worked for around an hour with Jaws of Life and other extrication equipment to free Gomez from where he appeared to be pinned within the vehicle by his foot.
Once free, he was quickly moved to the ambulance and driven from the scene with his passenger.
Also assisting at the scene were Shelby County Constable Jamie Hagler and Sheriff's Deputies.
