January 12, 2023 - Emergency personnel were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Highway 7 (SH7) and SL 500 Saturday, January 7, 2023.
When officers arrived at the location, sometime after 6:20am, both vehicles involved in the incident remained in the middle of the roadway.
According to Center Police Officer Jerry Payne, a silver 2021 F-150 driven by Jason Schendel, 52, of Iota was eastbound on SH7 when he attempted to turn left onto SL 500 in front of a silver 2007 Ford Focus driven by Louise Crocker, 72, of Center. Unable to avoid the collision, the Focus struck the F-150 on its right rear quarter panel and caused it to spin around in the lane of traffic.
Emergency medical services personnel were on scene and evaluated both drivers before Schendel was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injury. Crocker refused treatment at the scene and was not transported.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene by wrecker services.
No citations were reported to have been issued.
Center Fire Department personnel and additional units with the Center Police Department, as well as Shelby County Sheriff's Department were on scene to assist with traffic control until the area was clear.
According to Texas Department of Transportation crash statistics, there have been 57 crashes recorded at this intersection with 2022 having the highest number of recorded crashes in a year at 15.
