A Fed-Ex driver is transported to Livingston Memorial Hospital, among other injuries, he lost a finger.
Drunk Driver Causes Two 18 Wheelers to Crash, LIVINGSTON, July 14, 2010 - At around 11:30 pm on July 13, 2010, Lizet Villarreal, 22, of Moscow left the Down Under club in Livingston and proceeded to drive home. Villarreal headed north on US-59 for Moscow, the problem was, she was traveling in the south-bound lanes of traffic. Shortly after Villarreal passed Timberwood Nursing Home (still in the south-bound lanes of traffic), Villarreal nearly collided with a Fed-Ex Tractor Trailer. The Fed-Ex truck was actually pulling two large trailers. The Fed-Ex truck avoided Villarreal, but there was a second Fed-Ex Truck (also with double trailers) that tried but couldn't avoid colliding with Villareal. The blow was a glancing blow and Villarreal's vehicle left the road into the weeds of the center median, the truck however lost control and began to slide sideways and was struck by another oncoming 18 wheeler. Both 18 wheelers left the road to the right. The Fed-Ex truck came to rest on its side with the cab partially lodged under the trailer of the other truck that it collided with. Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department, Sheriff Deputies David Ramsey and Lee Rogers and DPS Trooper Ramey Bass. Villarreal and one of the 18 wheeler drivers refused treatment from the ambulance service, but the driver of the crashed Fed-Ex truck sustained undisclosed injuries including the loss of a finger. According to Trooper Bass, Villareal could not successfully perform any of the tasks required for a field sobriety test. Bass then drove Villareal to Livingston Memorial Hospital where she had to do a mandatory blood withdrawal in order to accurately measure her blood alcohol content level. Villareal was then driven to Polk County Jail, booked in, and charged with intoxication assault. Villarreal's insurance status was unconfirmed. As for the two 18 wheelers who collided, one was transporting lumber, while the Fed-Ex was carrying toxic chemicals. Polk County Emergency Management Coordinator Larry Shine was dispatched to the scene. All traffic on the south-bound side of US-59 was blocked and later re-routed to the north-bound side of 59 which (with the help of TxDOT), was converted into a two way road accommodating both north and south-bound traffic. Heavy duty wreckers were called in to help clean up the mess. Villarreal's vehicle was recovered by a rollback wrecker from Ken's Towing. and it will be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston. The south-bound lanes of traffic on 59 were finally opened up again for traffic at 4:45 am.
Special thank you: Assignment Editor, Stash Anderson and Assistan Editor, Willie A. Openshaw
The driver of this car was intoxicated and driving north in the south-bound lanes of US-59 a couple of miles north of Livingston.
There were 2 Fed-Ex Trucks (both with double trailers). This Fed-Ex truck managed to avoid the car and pulled over on 59.
The second Fed-Ex truck unavoidably struck the car, then collided with another 18 wheeler. The Fed-Ex truck is laying on its side with the cab partially under the trailer of the truck it collided with on the right side of 59 South.
The driver of the car, Lizet Villarreal, 22, of Moscow sits cuffed in a Trooper's car. Villarreal was too intoxicated to perform any of the tasks required for a field sobriety test.
The two 18 wheelers that collided. Note the rear of the Fed-Ex truck laying on its side. The Fed-Ex truck had two trailers.
The rear trailer became detatched during the collision on rolled to the right side of 59 until it ground to a halt.
Livingston Fire Chief, Corky Cochran examines the wreckage in the trailer of the wrecked Fed-Ex truck. Some of the contents were highly toxic chemicals.
Volunteer Firemen read the warning label on one of many containers of toxic chemicals from the wrecked Fed-Ex truck.
The contents of the Fed-Ex truck were pouring out the seems at the top of the trailer after it was turned on its side.
Lizet Villarreal's car was heavily damaged, but she emerged physically unharmed.
Trooper Ramey Bass escorts Villarreal to the hospital where she had to have a mandatory blood withdrawal for toxicology tests.
After rendering blood, Villarreal was taken back to the patrol unit.
Lizet Villarreal was transported to Polk County Jail and charged with intoxication assault.
After taking Villarreal to jail, Trooper Bass returned to the scene of the accident in order to continue his investigation.
Polk County Emergency Management Coordinator, Larry Shine (left) was summoned.
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