January 26, 2015 - Icy road conditions which occurred overnight on Friday evening and into Saturday morning, January 24, 2015 contributed to crashes throughout Shelby, San Augustine, and Sabine Counties keeping Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers extra busy.
A crash which occurred on U.S Highway 96 North caused traffic delays and an intense moment for two drivers.
According to Texas DPS Trooper Larry Linder, at 6:30am Aldin Monty, 58, of De Berry was traveling southbound in a 2002 Chevrolet 2500 on U.S. Highway 96 North at a railroad overpass just south of Flatfork Creek when the boat trailer he was hauling hit an icy patch in the roadway and began to hydroplane before striking a guardrail with its right side.
The trailer then spun back around to the left as the boat dislodged from the trailer and traveled across the highway into the northbound traffic lane. At this time a green 2014 Freightliner 18-wheeler driven by Michael Kinnaman, 67, of Iowa was quickly approaching. Kinnaman attempted to avoid hitting the boat by slowing down; however, this could not be prevented and the Freightliner collided with the boat.
The Chevrolet and the trailer continued off the roadway on the northbound side before coming to rest. Firemen with the Center Department and Center Police Department Sgt. Scott Burkhalter responded to the scene of the crash to assist with traffic control at the scene.
Damage to the Freightliner was minimal. Damage incurred by the boat was much more major and the trailer received damage as well, but it was still able to be towed away.
No citations have been issued at this time and no injuries were reported as a result of the crash.
According to sources with the Texas Department of Public Safety there were 16 reported crashes across Shelby, San Augustine, and Sabine Counties during the icy conditions.
