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Unsafe U-Turn, WEST TEMPE, November 24, 2023 - At approximately 12:02 pm on November 24, 2023, a gray 2019 Chevy Colorado Pickup, driven by Bobby Baker, 64, of Onalaska, was west-bound on US-190 West. Baker suddenly broadsided a white 2019 Jeep Compass. The driver of the Jeep Compass was directly in front of Baker when she (Brenda McDonald, 57, of Livingston) attempted a sudden, unexpected U-turn directly in front of Baker. The impact caused McDonald's vehicle to turn over on its side as both vehicles came to rest on the pavement. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department, Deputy Dakota Martinez with the Polk County Sheriff's Office,and Trooper Chris Cain with the Texas Highway Patrol. An Air Life medical helicopter landed on 190 and flew Baker to Conroe. McDonald was physically okay. All traffic on 190 was blocked during investigation, cleanup, and flight operations. McDonald is facing a citation for the unsafe U-turn. Both vehicles were recovered by George White & Sons Wrecker Service out of Onalaska.

Elderly Man Kills Himself on 146, PROVIDENCE, November 21, 2023 - Shortly before 2 pm on November 21, 2023, Polk County Sheriff's Office Dispatch radioed that an elderly man (93 years old) was traveling in a golf cart south-bound on US-146 on the shoulder. Callers informed dispatch that the man's behavior was erratic and that he had a pistol. Corporal Ramey Bass (with the Texas Highway Patrol) was nearby and located the man on 146 next to the Forest Springs subdivision. Corporal Bass was quickly joined by Trooper Cotye Lowrie (also with the Highway Patrol). A couple of minutes later, Trooper Lowrie radioed to dispatch "shots fired, he shot himself". Within minutes Officers from Livingston Police Dept. and Deputies and Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff's Office converged on the scene. The name of the man is being withheld at this time. We'll update this story as soon as we're able to get more information. Special thank you: Country Boy Towing

Pickups Collide, 1 Driver Flown, GOODRICH, November 20, 2023 - At approximately 1:05 pm on November 20, 2023, a green 2000 Toyota Tacoma, driven by David Files, 29, of Livingston, was south-bound on US-59. As Files was about to pass the north end of Loop 393, a white 2015 Chevy Pickup, driven by Darrell Dewight J. Kinsfather, 45, of Shepherd, pulled off of Loop 393 in an attempt to cross over to the north-bound side of 59. Kinsfather failed to yield to Files as files broadsided the back half (truck bed) of Kinsfather's pickup. The impact spun both vehicles around as the both came to rest in the center median. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Goodrich Volunteer Fire Department, and Corporal Ramey Bass, Cotye Lowrie, and Nick Hatton, all with the Texas Highway Patrol. Files sustained serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to a nearby landing zone and flown out. Kinsfather was physically okay. Traffic was not blocked during investigation and cleanup. Kinsfather is facing a citation for failing to yield to Files, and Files is facing a citation for no seatbelt. Both vehicles were recovered by Dan's Towing and will be stored in Livngston. Special thank you: Chad Summers

2 Vehicle Crash, Rollover, No Injuries, BLANCHARD, November 13, 2023 - At approximately 1:25 pm on November 13, 2023, the driver of a silver Toyota Sequoia was east-bound on US-190 West. As the driver was passing FM-2457, the driver of a maroon Dodge pickup attempted to cross from the west-bound side of 190 to FM-2457 and failed to yield to the Toyota. The Dodge impacted the side of the Toyota causing it to roll. The Toyota came to rest in right median on its driver's side. Amazingly, nobody was injured. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Troopers Nick Hatton and Sean Barnes with the Texas Highway Patrol. The driver of the Dodge pickup is facing a citation for failing to yield to the Toyota. Traffic was not blocked during investigation and cleanup. The Toyota was recovered by Country Boy Towing out of Livingston while the Dodge was recovered by Fawbush Wrecker Service out of Goodrich.

Horrible Night on 146, Multiple Fatality Accident, PROVIDENCE, November 10, 2023 - Shortly after 10 pm on November 9, 2023, a gray 2023 GMC pickup, driven by Joshua Gorman, 30, of Livingston, was north-bound on US-146 when a south-bound white 2011 Buick Lucerne slid out of control on the rain soaked pavement, into the north-bound lane directly into Gorman's vehicle. The driver of the Buick, Shemikia Brown, 34, of Livingston, and three of her passengers (small children) were killed on impact. Both vehicles came to rest on the pavement next to Millgate Road. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department Heavy Rescue Unit, Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Offiice, and Trooper Nick Hatton with the Texas Highway Patrol. A fourth child in Brown's vehicle was transported by Ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital. Traffic on 146 was rerouted around the scene of the accident. Gorman was physically okay. Justice of the Peace, Terri Mayer filed an inquest at the scene. The victims were transported from the scene by Cochran Funeral Home. The Buick was recovered by Dan's Towing of Livingston, and the GMC pickup was recovered by Smith Towing out of Livingston. This accident remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol. Special thank you: Country Boy Towing

Plant Explosion Near Shepherd, SAN JACINTO COUNTY, November 8, 2023 - Sometime shortly after 9 am on November 8, 2023, a huge explosion occurred at a Kinder Morgan Plant near Shepherd. A huge column of black smoke (that's blowing due north into Polk County) is easily visible from Livingston. The plant is located off of FM-1127 less that a mile from US-59 in San Jacinto County. Volunteer Firemen and first responders from all over East Texas are on the scene. According to sources, the explosion has caused several fatalities at the plant. The City of Livingston is advising that people stay inside their homes and shelter in place. The schools are sheltering inside and the students are safe.

Driver Crashes to the Bottom of Milton Creek, NEW WILLARD, November 4, 2023 - At approximately 5:54 pm on November 4, 2023, a navy blue 2012 Hyundai Sonata was south-bound on US-59 just south of Leggett. The driver left the pavement to the right and continued down into the bottom of Milton Creek. The driver, Charles Warren Mcewin, 36, of Livingston, crawled out of his car under his own power. Intoxication is suspected (possible prescription medication). Mcewin was transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital to be checked out. Trooper Sean Barnes with the Texas Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. Special thank you: Country Boy Towing

Head On Collision, 1 Person Flown, WEST TEMPE, November 3, 2023 - At approximately 9:50 am on November 3, 2023, a tan 2005 Chevy pickup, driven by Jonathan David Meyer, 46, of Point Blank, was east-bound on US-190 West (just west of the 3126 caution light). Meyer was suddenly slammed head on by a 2010 navy blue Lexus ES350 driven by Atawain Jabor Franklin, 42, of Huntsville. Franklin was traveling west-bound on the shoulder and abruptly swerved across the west-bound lane into the east-bound lane and slammed into the Meyer head on (at an angle). The impact caused Franklin's car to spin 360 degrees (causing the back of the car to also strike the pickup). Meyer's vehicle came to rest in the weeds on the east-bound side Franklin's vehicle came to rest in the middle of the pavement facing west. Allegiance and Texan EMS ambulance services were dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston and Onalaska Volunteer Fire Departments, Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Trooper Nick Hatton with the Texas Highway Patrol. Meyer was trapped. Volunteer Firemen used the Jaws-of-Life to cut the door off. Meyer was flown from the scene to Conroe. Franklin was transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital with undisclosed injuries. All traffic on 190 was blocked during investigation, cleanup, and flight operations. Both vehicles were recovered by George White & Sons Wrecker Service out of Onalaska. Franklin is likely facing a citation for crossing the center line into oncoming traffic. This accident remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol. Special thank you: Tim F. and Scottie with Country Boy Towing

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Train Strikes 18 Wheeler, LIVINGSTON, October 26, 2023 - At approximately 11:25 am on October 26, 2023, an 18 wheeler with a large steel load attempted to cross the tracks at the north end of North Washington (across from Giavanni's Z-Mart). The driver, Ernest Brandon Adkins, 39, of Williston North Dakota, was following another 18 wheeler with an identical load. According to a witness, the lead 18 wheeler was stopped waiting for traffic to clear so he could go under the north end overpass. Adkins was directly behind him on the tracks when a train began approaching at a reportedly fairly fast pace. Seeing the ocoming south-bound train coming at him, Adkins put his 18 wheeler in reverse to get off the tracks, but the train was coming too fast. The train struck the passenger's side front end of the tractor portion 18 wheeler. The impact knocked the truck off the tracks to the left. Adkins was not injured. Livingston Police Department was dispatched to the scene and was assisted by State Troopers, Polk County Sheriff's Deputies, and Constables. A heavy duty wrecker service was summoned to clean up the mess. Special thank you: Ken with Ken's Towing, Pat with Pop's Towing, and Scottie with Smith Towing.

Driver Gets Dizzy, Loses Control, S. FM-1988, October 25, 2023 - At approximately 3:10 pm on October 25, 2023, a black 2018 Honda Ridgeline was north-bound on FM-1988 South. According to the driver, she suddenly became dizzy and tried to get off the road. Instead she left the pavement to the right and slammed into the end of a guardrail just south of Tempe Creek. During the collision, her vehicle spun around facing sout (opposite direction of her travel). Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with Trooper Johnny Wilkerson with the Texas Highway Patrol. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The guardrail is designed, when impacted by a vehicle, to fly apart to the right and into the grass and away from the vehicle. This guardrail did exactly that. No ciations were issued. The vehicle was recovered by LakeView Wrecker and will be stored in Livingston.

Sleepy Driver Rolls Vehicle, LIVINGSTON, October 23, 2023 - At around 10:10 pm on October 23, 2023, the driver of a black Chevy sedan (possibly a Chevy Impala) was north-bound on US-59. The female driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel and rolled her vehicle on the pavement, coming to rest upright just on the south side of the overpass at the south end of Pan American Drive. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department Heavy Rescue Unit, Trooper Cotye Lowrie with the Texas Highway Patrol, and the Livingston Police Department, including Officers Justin Murdock, Keenan Dillard, and Sergeant David Mitchell. The driver (name not yet released), was entrapped in the back seat of her vehicle. Volunteer Firemen used the Jaws-of-Life to cut the door off of her vehicle. The driver was transported by ambulance from the scene to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital. All traffic on 59 was blocked during investigation and cleanup. The vehicle was recovered by Country Boy Towing. PolkCountyToday.com will update this story as soon as we're able to ascertain more information. This accident remains under investigation by the City of Livingston Police Department. Special thank you: Scottie with Country Boy Towing

Single Vehicle Accident, Driver and Passener Critical, Alcohol Suspected, BLANCHARD, October 22, 2023 - Shortly before 3 pm on October 22, 2023, a gray 2012 Nissan Rogue, was north-bound on Mangum Road (about a mile south of FM-3126). According to a witness, the car was traveling around 100 miles per hour. The car entered a curve too fast in the 3765 block of Mangum and left the pavement to the right. The vehicle proceeded in the grass and drifted into the woodline where it struck a large pine tree. The impact caused the vehile to lift off the ground and swerve into the underbrush where the vehicle came to rest suspended off the ground by small yaupons, while the front of the veicle was wrapped around the tree. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Scenic Loop Volunteer Fire Department Heavy Rescue Unit, and Trooper Cotye Lowrie with the Texas Highway Patrol. Both the driver and passenger were transported by ambulance to Livingston Municipal Airport where they were flown to Conroe by medical helicopter in critical condition. According to friends of both the driver and passenger, the driver is identified as Jesus Morales, 21, of Houston. They identified the passenger as Jose Topias, 22, also of Houston. Both men smelled heavily of alcohol and, according to witnesses, had been drinking at a residence in Mangum Estates. The vehicle was recovered by Dan's Towing out of Livingston. This accident remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol. Special thank you: Tim F. with Kwik Tow, and Scottie with Country Boy Towing

3 Vehicle Accident, 2 Hospitalized, CRYSTAL LAKES, October 12, 2023 - At approximately 2 pm on October 12, 2023, a tan 2006 Ford F-150 pickup driven by Tyler Lauhoff, 37, of Livingston, was east-bound on US-190 East. Lauhoff was waiting to make a left turn onto Old Woodville Road when he was slammed from behind by a red 2020 Chevy Equinox driven by Marilyn Colantonio, 46 of Livingston. The impact caused the rear half of Colantonio's vehicle to slide into the west-bound lanes where Colantonio was impacted by a west-bound black 2019 Nissan Sentra, driven by Joselyn Mactavish, 21, of Woodville. That impact caused Colantonio's vehicle to roll back into the east-bound lane as her vehicle came to rest upside down. Lauhoff's truck came to rest in the east-bound left lane, Mactavish's vehicle came to rest further down on the west-bound shoulder. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department, Sergeant Jason Pasky with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, and Troopers with the Texas Highway Patrol, including Corporal Ramey Bass and Johnny Wilkerson. Colantonio and Mactavish were both transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital with undisclosed injuries. Lauhoff was physically okay. Traffic on both sides of 190 was partially blocked during investigation and cleanup. Colantonio is facing a citation for failure to control speed. Lauhoff's vehicle was recovered by Ken's Towing and will be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston while Colantonio's vehicle was recovered by LakeView Wrecker and will be stored in Livingston, and Mactavish's vehicle was recovered Country Boy Towing and will be stored in Livingston. Special thank you: Ken with Ken's Towing, Chad Summers, and Country Boy Towing

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Driver Slams Into Tree, Intoxication Suspected, EAST TEMPE, October 1, 2023 - At approximately 7:05 pm on October 1, 2023, a black 1999 Dodge Durango, driven by Mark Woolf, 44, of San Jacinto County, was south-bound on FM-350 South. Woolf's vehicle left the pavement to the left, and slammed head on into a group of trees. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department Heavy Rescue Unit, Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, and Trooper Cotye Lowrie with the Texas Highway Patrol. One of the first men on the scene was Corporal Adrian Ontiveros with the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Corporal Ontiveros entered the vehicle that had caught fire, and with the help of a witness, Jose Olivares, they were able to get Woolf from the vehicle. Woolf was on the floor under the steering wheel. The seat was damaged and wouldn't slide back to make space to get Woolf out of the vehicle. Ontiveros put his feet on the dashboard and used leg and upper body strength to bend the seat frame back to make the room and pull Woolf from the burning vehicle. Woolf was transported by ambulance to Livingston Municipal Airfield where a medical helicopter landed and transported him to Hermann Hospital in Houston with serious head injuries. All traffic on 350 was blocked during investigation and cleanup. Woolf is possibly facing the charge of driving while intoxicated. Woolf's vehicle was recovered by Dan's Towing and was assisted by Pop's Towing. This accident remains under investigation by The Texas Highway Patrol. Special thank you: Ken with Ken's Towing and Scottie with Country Boy Towing

Fail to Yield Leads to Broadside, LIVINGSTON, October 1, 2023 - At approximately 9:40 am on October 1, 2023, a navy blue, 2019 Toyota 4Runner, driven by Brittany Sommers, 28, of Round Rock, was west-bound on US-190 West. As Sommers was about to pass FM-350 North, a black 1997 Nissan 200SX, driven by Ethan Daigle, 24, of Livingston, pulled off of 350 North and failed to yield to Sommers. Daigle was broadsided. The impact pushed Daigle's vehicle into the center median and spun his vehicle around facing his opposite direction of travel, while Sommers' vehicle came to rest on the left side of 190. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department, and Officer Jack Mueller with the Livingston Police Department. Officer Mueller was assisted by Sergeant Ronnie Bogany (also with Livingston PD). Daigle was transported by ambulance to a landing zone and flown to HCA Conroe with undisclosed injuries. Sommers was physically okay. One lane of 190 West was blocked during investigation and cleanup. Daigle is facing a citation for failure to yield at a stop sign. Daigle's vehicle was recovered by Ken's Towing and will be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston. Sommers' vehicle was recovered by LakeView Wrecker out of Livingston. Special thank you: Ken with Ken's Towing

Motorcycle Pursuit Ends in Crash, ONALASKA, October 1, 2023 - At approximately 10:40 pm on September 30, 2023, Sergeant William Land with the Polk County Sheriff's Office attempted to stop the driver of a black Harley Davidson Motorcycle on US-190 West just west of the Livingston City Limits. The motorcycle driver refused to stop and a pursuit was on. Sergeant Land was radioing updates to Sheriff's Office dispatchers as the pursuit continued. The driver was swerving in and out of oncoming east-bound traffic as the pursuit reached over 120 miles per hour. Onalaska Police Officers set up a blockade on the Kickapoo Bridge. Preliminarily, it appears that the motorcycle attempted to slip past a patrol unit occupied by Officer Jamee Davis with Onalaska PD. The driver (Austin Kirby, 25, out of New Mexico) tried to thread a needle slipping past the patrol unit and the concrete bridge railing and it didn't work. Kirby and his female passenger were ejected from the motorcycle over the bridge and landed in the water. Pursuing Officers quickly made their way down to the water to help the couple out of the water. Other Officers with the Onalaska Police Department showed up, Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department, and Trooper Cotye Lowrie with the Texas Highway Patrol. Trooper Lowrie was assisted by Trooper Wong out of San Jacinto County. The female passenger was transported by ambulance to a nearby landing zone and flown to Conroe Regional Hospital. Kirby and Officer Davis were transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. All traffic on Kickapoo Bridge was blocked during investigation and cleanup. Austin Kirby is suspected of intoxication in this incident and is likely facing a list of charges. Both vehicles were recovered by George White & Sons Wrecker Service out of Onalaska. This accident remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol. Special thank you: Ken with Ken's Towing and Scottie with Country Boy Towing

Pedestrian Struck and Killed, LIVINGSTON, September 29, 2023 - At approximately 5:35 am on September 29, 2023, a person (female) attempted to cross US-190 West from the parking lot of Chevron (next to Taco Bell and Walmart) and was struck by a older model silver Ford Crown Victoria that was west-bound. The pedestrian was knocked around twenty feet from the point of impact and was killed on impact. Officer Jack Mueller with the Livingston Police Department was dispatched to investigate and was assisted by a number of other officers with LPD including detectives. Justice of the Peace, Robert "Dooley" Johnson filed an inquest at the scene. That's all the information that we have at this time. PolkCountyToday.com will update this story as soon as we get more information. Special thank you: Ken with Ken's Towing and Chad Summers

Man Crashes Pickup, Arrested for Warrant, SWARTWOUT, September 27, 2023 - At approximately 7:52 am on September 27, 2023, a black 2022 Chevy Silverado was north-bound on FM-3126 North. The driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel, left the pavement to the right, jumped a culvert, and crashed through a fence. His pickup slid to a stop facing east, just inside private property (less than a mile from FM-1988 South). Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with Deputy Justin Murdock with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, and Trooper Nick Hatton with the Texas Highway Patrol. Trooper Hatton was assisted by Sergeant Sam Lattner (also with the Highway Patrol). The driver, James Allen Baker, 45, of Sherman was not injured. Baker got out of his truck and began gathering his possessions that flew out of his truck during the crash. As it turns out, Baker had a warrant for his arrest (felon in possession of a firearm X 2). Trooper Hatton placed Baker under arrest and transported Baker to Polk County Jail. Baker's pickup was recovered by Ken's Towing and will be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston. Special thank you: Ken with Ken'w Towing

Random Tree Fire, LIVINGSTON, September 18, 2023 - Shortly before 8 pm on September 18, 2023, and random tree fire was spotted off of Denham Street in Livingston. Officers from Livingston Police Department were dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department. The fire was safely put out. It's not known what caused the fire. One possibility is a homeless person could start a cook fire and the fire got out of control.

Here's a dashboard camera video of the third vehicle involved in yesterday's crash on FM-1988 South and FM-3126.

Three Vehicle Crash, SWARTWOUT, September 16, 2023 - At approximately 5:30 pm on September 16, 2023, a black 2021 Dodge Ram Pickup, driven by Fernando Estrada, Jr., 31, of Coldspring, was south-bound on FM-1988 South. As Estrada was about to pass FM-3126, a north-bound gray 2020 GMC Arcadio, driven by a 16 year old Livingston youth (female), attempted a left turn onto 3126 but failed to yield to Estrada. The vehicles collided. The impact knocked the GMC into a blue 2020 Ford F-150 pickup driven by Himanshu Kumar Thawait, 41, of Richmond. Thawait was directly behind the GMC. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with Park Rangers from nearby Lake Livingston State Park, and Trooper Cotye Lowrie with the Texas Highway Patrol. The young female that was driving the GMC and her passenger were both transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital with undisclosed injuries. Everyone else was okay. Traffic at the intersection was partially blocked and rerouted during investigation and cleanup. The Livingston youth was cited for failing to yield right-of-way to Estrada. Estrada's vehicle was recovered by Ken's Towing and will be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston. Thawait's vehicle was recovered by LakeView Wrecker and will be stored in Livingston. The GMC was recovered by Country Boy Towing and will be stored in Livingston. Special thank you: Ken with Ken's Towing

A Mess on 59, MARSTON, September 15, 2023 - At approximately 4:55 pm on September 15, 2023, a south-bound school bus had stopped on US-59 near Marston Road. The driver of a white van had stopped behind the school bus. Suddenly the driver of an 18 wheeler (who was apparently distracted) didn't notice the stopped traffic until the last second. The driver of the 18 wheeler tried to stop and jack-knifed into the side of the white van. Amazingly, there were no injuries. There appeared to be other vehicles on the south-bound side that fell victim to the accident. Trooper Cotye Lowrie with the Texas Highway Patrol was dispatched to investigate and was assisted by Deputy Michael McDuffie with the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The whole thing was nothing but a mess. Traffic on the south-bound side was completely blocked. The mess was finally cleared at around 7:30 pm. Special thank you: Ken with Ken's Towing