Single-Vehicle Rollover Takes Down Utility Pole

June 24, 2015 - Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers were dispatched to a single-vehicle rollover which took down a utility pole just outside of Center on State Highway 7 West near CR 1140 on Tuesday, June 23, 2015.

First to arrive on scene was Bradley Wilburn, West Shelby Volunteer fireman and Shelby County Probation Officer, who reported the driver was out of the vehicle and not trapped. ACE EMS arrived on scene and treated the driver for minor injuries. The driver refused transport by ambulance and was taken by private vehicle to a Nacogdoches hospital.

According to DPS State Trooper Keith Jones, at 3:42pm a 2001 black Ford Ranger pickup owned by Norma Castillo, of Tenaha, and driven by a minor, age 17, of Tenaha, was eastbound on SH 7 West. The driver stated to DPS he fell asleep and as the vehicle ran off the roadway, he woke up and over corrected to the left. The pickup crossed over the double yellow line onto the wrong side of the roadway and exited the highway before overturning and striking a Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative utility pole. The vehicle came to rest on its drivers side.

The power line snapped and DETEC crews arrived on scene to replace the damaged pole and repair the downed power line.

The driver was cited for wrong side of roadway when not passing. Assisting with the crash investigation was DPS Trooper Jade LaVergne.