The owners of this 2007 Ford F-150 speak with Trooper Ramey Bass. They initially reported the truck as stolen.
Truck Reported Stolen Crashes Off US-146, LIVINGSTON, July 16, 2011 - At approximately 5:15 am on July 16, 2011, a phone call was placed to the Polk County Sheriff's Office to report a stolen truck. The truck was a white 2007 Ford F-150. A short time later, the "stolen" truck crashed off US-146 across the street from the Escapees RV Club. The truck was north-bound on 146, left the road to the left, struck a culvert, over corrected back to the right sailed across 146 to the other side, left the road and slammed into a large pine tree. The driver fled the scene. There were two passengers in the bed of the truck, both were ejected. The two passengers were Joshua Robinson, 20, of Livingston and George Campbell (age not available). A lady by the name of Rita Cones was alerted to the accident and drove up and gave George Campbell a ride to Livingston Memorial Hospital. Campbell sustained major head injuries when he was ejected. The driver was Charles Ray Lester of Wild Country. Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene, along with Deputies Billy Duke, Sergeant Christian Schanmier and Trooper Ramey Bass with the Texas Highway Patrol. Trooper Donny Akers was dispatched to the hospital to help get details on the accident, upon arrival, Akers spotted Rita Cones and arrested her for driving while intoxicated. Joshua Robinson was detained by Sheriff's Deputies and was later released to Americare Ambulance Service and transported to Livingston Memorial. Charles Ray Lester has yet to be found. Lester is possibly facing charges of: Fleeing the scene of an injury accident (felony), and unsafe speed and other possible charges.
As things panned out, the owner of the truck decided to drop the charges of vehicle theft when she found out the driver (Charles Lester) was her son. A rollback wrecker from Harwood Wrecker Service recovered the truck and it will be stored at 101 Harwood Drive in Livingston. The scene was cleared by 7:45 am.
Path to destruction: Tiremarks on US-146 show how the north-bound truck left the road to the left, then over corrected to the right leaving the road again and slamming into a tree.
20 year old Joshua Robinson was detained by Deputies and then released to EMS Personnel. Robinson was riding in the bed of the truck and was ejected.
This 4 wheeler was also in the bed of the truck with the two passengers. According to Robinson, they were in the bed of the truck to hold the 4 wheeler in place cause it didn't fit in the back of the truck. It was also ejected.
Dead center: As the truck was pulled away from the tree, the damage from the impact was revealed.
Deputy Michael "Peanut" Bentley showed up to assist.
Big Jim Harwood recovered the 4 wheeler and the truck.
This BobWhite stood nearby watching everything.
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