February 23, 2016 - A large motor home ended up in a creek on U.S. Highway 59 north of Timpson on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Cpl. Jimmy Faulkner, at around 7am .2 miles north of CR 4657 a 2006 Foretravel motor home driven by Larry Ratliff, 65, of Nacogdoches and hauling a 2003 Acura SUV was traveling north. Although additional information on what occurred to cause the crash is not available as of the time of this report, the Foretravel failed to drive in a single lane and ended up backwards in a creek on the opposite side of the roadway.
Upon arrival of emergency personnel, the crashed vehicles were located and it was determined Ratliff was uninjured in the incident. A tree which was struck by the Foretravel was lying across nearby railroad tracks. It was cleared before any approaching trains could collide with the debris.
Hopkins Wrecker Service out of Timpson was dispatched to pull the vehicles from their location in the creek; however, enough damage was incurred by the Foretravel that it could not roll successfully and because of its location it was determined a crane was necessary to lift it from the creek.
Easley's Crane and Wrecker Service out of Lufkin was requested to the scene, arriving at 10:40am. TxDOT was on scene and blocked the southbound traffic lanes and turning Highway 59 into a two-lane roadway while the crane was used to move the Foretravel. From 11:30am until 1:42pm the crane crew worked to remove the motor home from the creek and place it on the roadway until it could be moved to a flatbed trailer and transported from the scene.
The scene was cleared and the roadway reopened at 3:45pm. Texas DPS State Trooper Dustin Ramos held the scene for Trooper Faulkner and Timpson Police Officer Michael Williams was also on scene to assist throughout the operation.
More information on what caused this crash will be updated on Shelby County Today as it is made available.
