PolkCountyToday.com

TDC Transport Van Crashes and Rolls 3 Times, GOODRICH, March 19, 2023 - At approximately 8:15 am on March 19, 2023, a Texas Department of Corrections transport van was north-bound on US-59. For some reason, the driver, Jatavion Rigsby, 26, of San Augustine, abruptly cut left, then over corrected right, left the pavement to the right, and rolled three times striking several hack berry trees. The van cam to rest upside down on a barbed wire fence in Goodrich less than two miles from the Trinity River Bridge. 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 Troopers Sean Barnes, David Morris and another Trooper from San Jacinto County. Firemen used the Jaws-of-Life and other extraction equipment to free Rigsby, his co-worker, Zachery Young, 30, of Jasper, and the one inmate that was being transported, Louis Matthews, 61, being transported from the Gib Lewis Unit. Officials from TDC also arrived on the scene including Polunsky Unit Senior Warden, Daniel Dickerson. The driver, Rigsby, was flown to Kingwood Hospital, his co-worker, Young, was transported by ambulance to Kingwood Hospital, and the inmate, Matthews, was flown to Hermann Hospital in Houston. Matthews was entrapped in the van. Firemen used extraction equipment to open the van and a ladder truck to lower a rope into the van, and lift Matthews (Matthews is a wheel chair bound inmate) out of the van cradled in a special device. All traffic on the north-bound side of 59 was blocked during rescue operations, flight operations, investigation, and cleanup. It is not yet known what caused Rigsby to suddenly swerve causing the accident. The van was recovered by Country Boy Towing and was assisted by Smith Towing. This accident remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol.

Special thank you: Ken with Ken's Towing