PolkCountyToday.com

(L - R) Rocky Richards, Corky Cochran, Ben Ogletree III, Judge Darrell Longino

Young Promising Life Snuffed Out by Early Morning Accident, LIVINGSTON, July 9, 2009 - A young man was tragically killed in an early morning accident on US-146 in Livingston.  According to the Livingston Police Department, just minutes after 4:30 am on July 9, 2009, a blue 1994 GMC truck driven by Landon Laird, 17, of Big Sandy was north-bound on 146 headed into Livingston, on his way to his summer job at Big Sandy ISD, when his truck left the road to the right.  Laird over-corrected and his truck skidded across 146, struck a curb and rolled.  Laird was ejected and landed in the grass on the south-bound side.  The truck followed and landed sideways on Laird.  Livingston Police Chief Dennis Clifton and officers Kevin Ward, Darrell Newman, and Lieutenant Matt Parrish were dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department Heavy Rescue Unit and DPS Troopers Brent Murray and Sam Lattner.  Americare Ambulance was dispatched but not needed as it was determined that Laird was deceased.  Both south-bound lanes of 146 were blocked and re-routed as the accident was being investigated and cleared.  Volunteer Firemen had to lift the truck to get to Laird.  Polk County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Darrell Longino arrived and pronounced Laird dead at the scene at 5:30 am.  Longino and LPD ordered an autopsy to be performed on Laird.  A body-car from Cochran's Funeral Home was summoned and retrieved Laird's body.  A wrecker from Harwood Wrecker Service recovered Laird's truck and it will be stored at Harwood in Livingston.  The scene was cleared by 6:44 am.