May 26, 2015 - State Highway 7 East was the scene of a single-vehicle crash on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 where several witnesses were first to respond to the aid of those involved.
As the crash occurred, Jennifer Norton was preparing to turn into the Steel Building Supply parking lot and Jamie Lindley was in the lot by his vehicle. Norton hesitated turning as it appeared a truck which was approaching her from the east was about to turn into the same lot. That hesitation may have prevented 
the truck from colliding with Norton as the next thing Lindley witnessed was the truck traveling airborne over the entrance to the parking lot. Once the vehicle stopped moving, Lindley and Norton moved quickly to those involved in the crash and helped them until EMS arrived.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Cpl. Trooper Jimmy Faulkner investigated the crash assisted by DPS Trooper Dustin Ramos and DPS Trooper Michael Neal. According to DPS Trooper Ramos at 12:28pm a 1995 white Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Nicholas Smith, 19, of Mansfield with passenger Terry London, 20, was traveling west on State Highway 7 East. The truck failed to drive in a single lane and drove off the roadway to the left into a ditch where it struck a culvert and became slightly airborne before overturning and coming to rest off the road in front of Steel Building Supply and facing north. A motorcycle within the bed of the truck was tossed from the vehicle during the crash.
Smith and London were transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Smith was issued a citation for failure to drive in a single lane and failure to maintain financial responsibility. The crash remains under investigation.
The Center Fire Department was on scene to provide traffic control and assist others.
