Fatal Crash Occurs at Timpson Intersection

(Update): The name of the driver who perished in the crash on Sunday has been released and is identified as Keri Roark, 30, of Louisiana.

The Ford Focus involved in Sunday's wreck is seen above after Jaws of Life was used to cut into the vehicle.April 13, 2015 - A highway intersection in Timpson has been the scene of two major crashes this past weekend with fatal results for one driver.

When two vehicles collided on Sunday, April 12, 2015 emergency personnel was quickly dispatched to the scene at the intersection of U.S. Highway 84 and U.S. Highway 59 South.

First on scene were Timpson Police Officer Jake Metcalf and Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jade Lavergne. Upon arrival, the officers located a vehicle in the median of the highway with major damage and they both worked to try and help the driver, who was trapped; however, nothing could be done to help her.

According to Timpson Police Officer Jake Metcalf, at 2:30pm a witness at the scene stated a grey 2008 Ford Focus driven by, an as yet unidentified female, of Louisiana came to a stop at the stop sign and then drove into the intersection failing to yield to the 18-wheeler. This caused the red 2015 Volvo truck tractor owned by RJR Transportation Company and driven by Thomas K. Gisleson, 52, of Illinois to strike the Focus on the driver side of the vehicle spinning it around and sending it into the median where it struck a light pole.

The Timpson Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene with Jaws of Life to extricate the driver from the Focus and the Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service was on scene to provide any necessary care. Mike Crouch, Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, pronounced the driver of the Focus deceased at the scene.

Assisting Officer Metcalf with the investigation at the scene was Trooper Lavergne and Shelby County Sheriff's Deputy Kurtes Lawrence. Officer Metcalf expressed gratitude to all emergency personnel who helped at the scene.

The other incident which took place at the same intersection on Friday, April 10, 2015 had similar circumstances with different results.

According to Officer Metcalf, at 11:26am a maroon 2006 Dodge Ram dually pickup truck driven by Victoria Mendoza, 27, of Jacksonville approached the same stop sign yet failed to stop.

As the Dodge crossed the southbound traffic lanes it did so in front of a 2006 Ford F-150 driven by Isias Cruz, 52, with passenger Kimberly Leonard, 48, both of Timpson. The Ford and the Dodge collided causing major damage to the front of the Ford and to the driver side of the Dodge.

Leonard was transported from the scene by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of her injuries.

Mendoza was issued citations for fail to stop at a stop sign and no drivers license.