July 18, 2024 - Emergency personnel responded to a major cash incident just outside of Tenaha on U.S. Highway 59 Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 3:48pm.
The crash involved an 18-wheeler and a passenger car, which had multiple occupants, approximately a mile-and-a-half from Tenaha. Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the scene and Timpson Volunteer Fire Department arrived at the location to assist.
Airlift was requested to the location; however, air support was not able to fly at that time. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Troopers from Nacogdoches were dispatched to the scene to assist Shelby County Troopers.
According to information from the Texas DPS, the preliminary crash investigation indicates that a Mack truck tractor semi-trailer driven by Zachary Perez, 41, of Marshall was traveling northeast in the outside lane, followed by a Dodge Journey driven by Jonathan Toledo, 22, of Nacogdoches. It is reported that Toledo failed to control his speed and struck the rear of the semi-trailer.
Toledo, and two passengers, a 17-year-old female and a 5-year-old male child, were transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center by ambulance for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
A 6-year-old female child was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
Perez was not reported to have been injured.
Toledo was cited for failing to control his speed and for failing to properly secure a child with a child safety seat.
According to DPS, this is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available.
Shelby County Sheriff's Department deputies and Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5; as well as Taylor Fanguy, Constable Precinct 4; were on scene to assist DPS with their investigation.
DPS Troopers from Nacogdoches investigating the scene were Cpl. Trooper Austin Lunsford; Trooper Herbert Flores; Trooper Kody Moore; and Trooper Brinden Stephens. Shelby County Trooper at the scene was Daniel Dellenger.
