Young Driver Learning the Hard Way About Speeding, LIVINGSTON, July 7, 2008 - At approximately 10:47 pm on July 7, 2008, a black 2008 Mazda 3 driven by Chris Hopkins, 19, of Shepherd was west-bound on 1988. Hopkins was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control of his vehicle. Hopkins' vehicle went off the road to the right and through a ditch. According to witnesses, Hopkins' vehicle then went up the side of a driveway embankment and went airborne, flipped in the air, slammed into a telephone pole, and landed upright. Hopkins' vehicle immediately caught fire. Amazingly, Hopkins, and his passenger, Stephanie Morris, 18 of Livingston, were able to get themselves out of the vehicle. The vehicle soon became engulfed in flames. A fire engine from Goodrich Volunteer Fire Department arrived to extinguish the blazing vehicle. Hopkins was physically okay, however Morris is believed to have a broken leg and was transported to Livingston Memorial Hospital by Americare Ambulance Service. DPS Troopers Brent Murray, Chris Stanbery, and Darwon Evans were all at the scene. Also at the scene were Polk County Sheriff's Deputies Lee Rogers, David Ramsey, and Billy Duke. Also on the scene was Polk County Emergency Management Coordinator, Ken Hambrick. In addition, Hopkins' mother arrived on the scene and was visibly upset with the turn of events. Hopkins was issued a citation for unsafe speed. Both lanes of 1988 were blocked while the accident was being cleared. Hopkins' vehicle was recovered by a rollback wrecker from Smith Towing out of Shepherd. The accident was cleared and traffic flowing again at mid-night.
