September 19, 2016 - State Highway 7 West was the scene of a three-vehicle crash Friday, September 16, 2016 which resulted in injuries for several involved and the arrest of one driver.
When emergency personnel first arrived on scene just east of FM 2913, vehicles were in two different locations at a distance from one another with injured parties reported at both ends of the crash. While West Shelby Volunteer Firemen provided traffic control with other passersby, Center Fire Department firemen were on scene working to extricate one driver from a vehicle as they assisted ACE EMS.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, at 2:20pm a blue 2003 Ford Expedition driven by Mario Garza-Cuatio, 33, of Nacogdoches was westbound on State Highway 7 in the inside lane. Garza-Cuatio crossed the double yellow line into the eastbound side and struck a white 2013 Ford F-150 driven by Monte Griffith, 47, of Center in its front.
This caused the F-150 to slide sideways into the westbound traffic lanes where it struck a maroon 2003 Ford Explorer driven by Kelley Nicole Fountain, 21, of Center who was traveling with a 5-month-old female and 1-year-old male passenger.
Fountain's Explorer rolled over and came to rest on its top in the westbound ditch, trapping Fountain. Garza-Cuatio's Explorer was disabled by the crash and came to rest back on the westbound side of the roadway in a ditch.
Fountain and her passengers were transported by ACE EMS to a hospital in Nacogdoches for treatment. Griffith refused treatment at the scene and was later taken by private vehicle to a hospital.
Garza-Cuatio was examined by ambulance personnel and upon being cleared by EMS failed a sobriety test given by DPS. Garza-Cuatio was arrested and the scene and was charged with intoxication assault, no driver's license and driving on wrong side of roadway no passing zone. He was then booked into the Shelby County Jail.
DPS Trooper Keith Jones assisted Trooper Buster at the scene with his investigation.
