Name Released From Fatal Accident on April 28, SODA, June 25, 2019 - The name of the driver that was killed in a two vehicle head on that occurred late in the night in April of 2019 has been released. Ray Elvis Battise, 39, of the Alabama Coushatta Tribe / Reservation was killed on impact during the double fatality that also claimed the life of 40 year old Alton Ray Kimes, of Livingston. Kimes' vehicle crossed the center line on 190 shortly after 3 am allegedly causing the head on collision. Both men were deceased at the scene. A passenger with Kimes was hospitalized.
Editor's Note: We apologize for the lateness of this information. It's especially not fun to bring up something that happened two months ago. Family members of the deceased will likely hear about this headline as it aggravates relatively fresh grief. Sometimes information and acquiring scientific evidence for identification takes more time than we'd like, and information is slow. We did say that we'd update, and in spite of the lateness, we did. Again, our apologies to all involved in this tragic incident.
ORIGINAL STORY BELOW
Justice of the Peace, Darrell Longino, performed inquests at the scene.
Head On Collision Kills 2 Livingston Men, SODA, April 28, 2019 - At approximately 3:15 am on April 28, 2019, a silver 2015 Dodge Ram 1500, driven by Alton Ray Kimes, 40, of Livingston, was west-bound on US-190 East near Nettles Cemetery Road. Kimes' vehicle crossed the center line and slammed head-on into an east-bound black 2003 Cadillac Escalade. The impact spun both vehicles around as they came to rest in the east-bound lanes. The Cadillac ignited and quickly became engulfed in flames. Prior to the accident, multiple call ins to the Polk County Sheriff's Office prompted an attempt to locate on Kimes' vehicle for weaving and reckless driving. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department Heavy Rescue Unit, Deputies Nicole McLean and Corporal Adam Norris with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Units with Livingston Police Department, and Troopers Nick Hatton and Sergeant Sam Lattner with the Texas Highway Patrol. Sadly, both men were killed on impact. A passenger with Kimes, Naomi Moody, 40, of Livingston, was transported by ambulance to a landing zone and flown by medical helicopter to Conroe Regional Hospital. Traffic on 190 was partially blocked during investigation and cleanup. The name of the driver in the Cadillac is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of relatives. First-call cars from Cochran Funeral Home transported both victims from the scene. Both vehicles were recovered by Ken's Towing and will be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston. This accident remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol.
Editor's Note: This story was intentionally delayed in order to allow adequate time for notification of next of kin.
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WARNING: The images below show scenes from a violent head on collision. No blood is visible, however, if images of this nature might offend you in any way, DO NOT scroll down this page.
Accident Investigator, Trooper Nick Hatton (right) was assisted by Sergeant Sam Lattner.
The silver Dodge Pickup was west-bound and, according to witnesses, crossed the center line and slammed head on into a 2003 Cadillac Escalade. The Cadillac ignited and quickly became engulfed in flames.
The vehicles spun around and came to rest in the east-bound lanes.
Both victims were transported from the scene by first-call cars from Cochran Funeral Home.
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