Emergency crews were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash involving a fatality at the intersection of Loop 500 and U.S. Highway 96 South in front of the new Nacogdoches Medical Center emergency room on Tuesday, December 30, 2014.Patrick Beard, 59, of Sourlake was traveling northbound in a blue Toyota Highlander on U.S. 96 just before 5:15am when, according to eyewitness statements, he ran the red light and entered the intersection with Loop 500 and collided with the trailer of a 2000 Mack truck-tractor live haul chicken truck traveling eastbound and driven by Darious Hill, 39, of Nacogdoches.
The collision caused major damage to the front of the Highlander. The truck tractor received minor damage to the trailer and it came to a stop just past the crash scene.
Center Police officers and ACE EMS arrived at the scene and discovered Beard was dead at the wheel of the Highlander. Maxie Eaves, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, was called to the scene and he pronounced Beard deceased at the scene. The Center Fire Department used jaws of life to help extricate Beard from the vehicle.Watson and Sons Funeral Home transported Beard from the scene. Center Police Officer Jake Gross investigated the crash assisted by Officer Jeremy Konderla, Sgt. Duane Gordon and Officer Bobby Walker.
The crash remains under investigation.
