February 24, 2015 - A single-vehicle crash occurred just before 9pm during icy conditions on Loop 500 in Center on Monday, February 23, 2015. Center Police Department officers and ACE EMS were dispatched to the scene of the crash on the bridge just before Few Ready Mix.
When the officers arrived they found a Ford Explorer SUV with the driver Saundra Harris, 52, of Center still inside. Officers, assisted by a Sheriff's Deputy at the scene, broke a window to gain access to the vehicle and provide help to Harris as well as assist EMS in moving her to a waiting ambulance.
Before the crash occurred, Harris was traveling westbound on Loop 500 in the Ford Explorer when the vehicle traveled over the bridge and met with a very icy roadway. She lost control of the vehicle due to the ice and struck a guardrail which caused the Explorer to roll onto the driver's side.
Harris was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of unknown injuries. No citations were issued as of this report.
The investigation was handled by Center Police Officer Jeremy Konderla, assisted by Officer Jake Gross.
There were several other incidents across the county, and most notably at Huana Creek bridge on U.S. Highway 96 South where a sheet of ice covered the bridge, which could not even be traversed on foot safely. Deputies marked the roadway to slow travelers following two crashes which occurred just after the incident on the Loop 500 bridge. TxDOT, soon after, applied sand and salt to bridges across the county, including Huana Creek bridge.
Travelers should continue to use caution Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, February 25.
