Accident Hospitalizes Driver and Passenger, SWARTWOUT, February 1, 2023 - At approximately 10:10 pm on January 31, 2023, a black 2012 Ford Focus, driven by Tammy Lee Lake, 52, of Coldspring, was south-bound on FM-1988 South. As Lake was about to pass the intersection of FM-3126, a north-bound white 2008 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Charlie R. Christensen, 61, of Splendora, attempted a left turn onto FM-3126 but failed to yield to Lake. The vehicles collided. Lake's vehicle spun around and slid backwards into a drainage area while the Jeep came to rest on the pavement. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department Heavy Rescue Unit, Deputies Caleb Boyer, Dakota Martinez, and Sergeant William Land with the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Troopers Linley Clark and Cotye Lowrie with the Texas Highway Patrol. Lake was pinned in her vehicle. Firemen used the Jaws-of-Life to cut the vehicle from around Lake and safely remove her from her vehicle. Both Lake and her passenger were transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital with undisclosed injuries. Christensen was physically okay. Traffic on 1988 and 3126 was partially blocked during investigation and cleanup. Christensen was cited for failing to yield right-of-way to Lake. Both vehicles were recovered by LakeView Wrecker and will be stored in Livingston.
61 year old Charlie Christensen, of Splendora, was driving this 2008 Jeep Wrangler north-bound on FM-1988 South when he attempted a left turn and failed to yield to oncoming traffic.
Christensen failed to yield to this 2012 Ford Focus, driven by 53 year old Tammy Lee Lake, of Coldspring.
Lake was pinned in her vehicle and firemen from Livingston used the Jaws-of-Life to cut the vehicle from around Lake.
Lake (and her passenger) were transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital.
Mixi, Heidi, and Katy were on duty for PolkCountyToday.com.
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