43 year old Jorge Garza of Houston used a fire extinguisher from his truck to put the fire out on the car that slammed him from behind (also pictured Trooper Donny Akers).
Car Rear Ends 18 Wheeler, Driver Flown to Houston, LEGGETT, May 18, 2012 - At approximately 3:40 pm on May 18, 2012, an 18 wheeler driven by Jorge Garza, 43, of Houston, was north-bound on US-59 in Leggett. Garza slowed down to make a right turn onto FM-942 East when he was slammed from behind by a black 1999 Ford Mustang driven by James Green, 67, of Corrigan. Green's vehicle came to rest where he impacted Garza's semi, while Garza pulled onto 942 and stopped. Green's vehicle was on fire and Garza took a fire extinguisher from his rig and put the fire out. Garza told PolkCountyToday.com that flames were shooting out from both sides of the hood of Green's vehicle. Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with Sergeant Jason Paske with the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Troopers Donny Akers and Sergeant Nita Bowen with the Texas Highway Patrol. Garza was physically okay, but James Green suffered incapacitating injuries to his head. Personnel from Americare removed Green from his vehicle and transported him to Livingston Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. A helicopter from PHi Air Medical landed at Memorial and transported Green to Hermann Hospital in Houston. Traffic on the north-bound side of 59 in Leggett was partially blocked during investigation and cleanup. According to Trooper Akers, Green will be cited for failure to control speed. A rollback wrecker from Riley Wrecker Service recovered Green's vehicle and it will be stored in Corrigan. The scene was cleared by 4:45 pm.
WARNING: The images below show scenes from a violent automobile accident. Blood is visible in some pictures. If this offends you in any way, DO NOT scroll down this page.
This 1999 Ford Mustang slammed Garza's semi from behind. The Mustang was driven by 67 year old James Green of Corrigan.
Part of the front end of Green's Mustang was stuck on the back of Garza's rig.
Emergency personnel from Americare remove an incapacitated James Green from his vehicle.
Troopers Donny Akers and Sergeant Nita Bowen invesitgated the accident. Akers is the primary investigator.
Green's vehicle was recovered by Riley Wrecker Service out of Corrigan.
James Green was transported to Livingston Memorial Hospital where he was received by a PHi Air Medical helicopter and flown to Hermann Hospital in Houston.
PHi Air Medical lifts off from Livingston Memorial Hospital enroute to Houston.
If you would like to comment on this story, we'd love to hear from you. Be sure to put which story in the blank provided below. Your name and your comment will be posted in the Letters to the Editor.
