September 17, 2015 - U.S. Highway 96 North just south of Loop 500 was the scene of a three-vehicle crash Thursday morning, September 17, 2015 which resulted in a helicopter transport for one driver.
Center firemen were first on scene of the crash by way of Waylon Griffith who began checking the condition of those involved, as other firemen arrived they began working traffic control to help prevent risk of another collision.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jimmy Faulkner, at 9:30am a white 2006 Chevrolet Express van driven by Wilbert Martin, 68, of Center was traveling north on U.S. Highway 96 and was preparing to make a left turn into a private driveway (Pete's Pro Auto Care).
As Martin was preparing to turn a silver 2014 BMW X3 SUV driven by Carolyn Daw, 74, of Center was also traveling north and approached from behind failing to control speed and striking the Chevrolet in the rear, causing major damge to both vehicles. This caused the Chevreolet to travel into the southbound traffic lanes and collide with a 2012 Fontaine flatbed trailer hauling crane equipment being hauled by a 2012 Kenworth driven by Justin Latham, 45, of Palestine causing damage on the driver's side of the Chevrolet.
The BMW remained in the middle of the roadway where the crash occurred while the Chevrolet continued to the other side of the southbound traffic lanes, where it cane to rest on the shoulder.
A landing zone was established just off the roadway in an open field by the Center Fire Department and ACE EMS where a Life Air Rescue helicopter could land. Daw was transported from the scene to LSU Hospital in Shreveport for treatment of her obvious broken bones. Martin was transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for what were reported to be non life threatening injuries. No injuries were reported to have been received by Latham resulting from the crash.
Daw was issued a citation for failure to control speed. Trooper Faulkner was assisted at the scene by Trooper Taylor Buster and Trooper Ricardo Segura.
