May 9, 2016 - U.S. Highway 96 South was the scene of a major two-vehicle crash between a passenger car and a truck-tractor on Monday, May 9, 2016.
Emergency crews raced to the scene just south of CR 1008 (6 miles south of Center) where one vehicle was left overturned in the middle of the roadway. Debris was all around the crash scene with wheels from both vehicles involved strewn on and beside the roadway.
EMS and Center firemen worked to extricate the driver of the vehicle in the middle of the roadway and move her to a waiting ambulance.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper Cpl. Jimmy Faulkner, at 11:35am Henry Thornton, 62, of San Augustine was traveling south in a black 2015 Peterbilt truck-tractor owned by DRL out of Center pulling an empty shavings trailer.
For an undetermined reason the truck-tractor crossed over into the northbound traffic lane and into the path of oncoming traffic. Carriston Hendricks, 33, of Shelbyville was driving a white 2014 Ford Explorer north on U.S. 96 as the truck-tractor crossed over and collided with the explorer with the rear driver's side of the trailer, causing major damage.
Once Hendricks was freed from the Explorer she was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital for treatment of her injuries.
No injuries were reported to have been received by Thornton as a result of the crash. He was issued a citation for wrong side of road not passing.
Cpl. Faulkner was assisted in his investigation by Texas DPS Trooper Sean Smith.
