October 15, 2016 - Emergency crews were dispatched to the intersection of U.S. Highway 96 North and Loop 500 just outside of Center Friday, October 14, 2016 after a van took a nosedive into a ditch.
When the Center Fire Department, Center Police Department and ACE EMS arrived on scene the passenger of the van was out and the driver remained inside.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Austin Lunsford, at 6:44am a blue 2003 Chrysler Town and Country LX van driven by 2016 Dale Helm, 73, of Milam with passenger Michael Hagler, 67, of Milam was traveling west on SL 500.
Trooper Lunsford reports Helm disregarded the stop sign at the intersection of SL 500 and U.S. 96 traveling through the intersection and into a ditch on the other side of the roadway where the Chrysler collided with its front end in the ditch.
ACE EMS transported both the driver and passenger to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of their injuries. Helm was issued a citation for disregard stop sign and Hagler was issued a citation for no seat belt.
