Major Accident on 190 East, LIVINGSTON, May 24, 2009 - According to the Department of Public Safety, at 4:50 pm on May 24, 2009, a silver 2009 Toyota Tacoma driven by Andrea Ortega, 43 of Alvin was east-bound on US-190 East when a silver Toyota 4 Runner driven by Michelle Frank, 43, of Houston was west-bound on 190 and hydroplaned. Frank's vehicle slammed with a glancing blow head-on into Ortega's vehicle. Frank's vehicle came to rest in the east-bound lanes of 190 while Ortega's vehicle rolled down the embankment and came to rest at the woodline. DPS Trooper Sam Lattner was dispatched to the scene along with Lone Star and Americare Ambulance Services. The Livingston Volunteer Fire Department Heavy Rescue Unit, led by Chief Corky Cochran, was summoned to get the driver's side door off of Ortega's truck in order to remover her from her vehicle. Frank was transported by ambulance to Livingston Memorial Hospital with incapacitating injuries while Ortega sustained more serious injuries and had to be transported to Hermann Hospital in Houston. Both east-bound lanes of 190 were blocked as the accident was being investigated and cleared. Both parties had insurance. Frank was issued a citation for unsafe speed. A wrecker from Polock's Wrecker recovered Frank's vehicle and it will be stored at Polock's in Livingston while a rollback wrecker from LakeView Wrecker recovered Ortega's vehicle and it will be stored at LakeView in Livingston. The scene was cleared and traffic fully flowing by 6:30 pm.
Michelle Frank's 4 Runner hydroplaned causing the accident.
Frank's vehicle caused a glancing head-on. Ortega's vehicle rolled down this grassy embankment.
Firemen from Livingston Volunteer Fire Dept. used the jaws-of-life to pry open Andrea Ortega's door in order to remove her from her vehicle.
Interior of Ortega's vehicle.
DPS Troopers Sam Lattner (left) and Chris Stanbery
Debris littered 190 from the high speed head-on collision.
Frank's 2006 4 Runner.
Ortega's vehicle being recovered by LakeView Wrecker Service.
Ortega's Toyota Tocoma.
Andrea Ortega was transported to Hermann Hospital in Houston.
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