Truck -vs- Riding Lawn Mower, Both Parties Flown Out, INDIAN SPRINGS, July 16, 2010 - Shortly before 9am on July 16, 2010, a green John Deere Riding Lawn Mower driven by Raymond Lee Lewis, 62, of Indian Springs, was east-bound on the east-bound shoulder of US-190 when he was struck from behind by a tan 2004 Chevy 1500 driven by Charles Ray Tucker, 78, of Livingston. The impact knocked Lewis off his riding lawn mower. Tucker's vehicle pulled Lewis' mower all the way across the east-bound lane of 190 and stopped in the middle of the west-bound lane. Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Indian Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Sergeant Jason Paske with the Sheriff's Office and Corporal Sam Lattner and Trooper David Morris (both with the Texas Highway Patrol). Raymond Lewis sustained major head injuries and was flown to Hermann Hospital in Houston by PHI Air Medical Helicopter. Tucker also sustained incapacitating injuries and was flown to Hermann as well (transported by Life Flight from Camp Ruby Community Church near FM-1276). All traffic on 190 was halted during investigation, cleanup, and flight operations. A rollback wrecker from Ken's Towing recovered both the mower and the truck and they'll be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston. Preliminarily, a medical condition is suspected of being the contributing factor as to why Charles Tucker's vehicle left the road and struck Raymond Lewis. No citations have been issued as the accident is still under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol. The scene was cleared by 10:30 am.
The truck left the road and struck the riding lawn mower on the shoulder and dragged it to the middle of the west bound lane.
Trooper David Morris (left) and Corporal Sam Lattner worked the accident.
Raymond Lewis (riding lawn mower) sustained major head injuries. EMS personnel from PHI Air Medical loaded Lewis and flew him to Houston.
PHI Air Medical lifts off for Hermann Hospital in Houston.
20 minutes later Charles Tucker (Chevy truck) was loaded onto a Life Flight Helicopter and also transported to Hermann Hospital.
As a standard procedure for Indian Springs Fire Department, a firefighter stands by in all life flight situations just in case something goes wrong.
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