18 Wheeler Slams Car on 59 North of Livingston, LIVINGSTON, July 19, 2013 - At approximately 4:20 pm on July19, 2013, an 18 wheeler hauling sheet metal and driven by Aaron Longino, 40, of Monroe, Louisiana, was north-bound on US-59. Longino was a short distance north of Livingston when he suddenly had to swerve left in an effort to avoid striking a car. The car was a silver Lincoln Town Car driven by Judy Gafford, 65, of Livingston. Gafford pulled out of the parking lot of J&C Autobody into the north-bound lanes of traffic, but failed to yield to the oncoming 18 wheeler. Longino cut left, but still clipped the front driver's side of Gafford's vehicle. The impact caused Gafford's vehicle to roll as it came to rest upside down blocking the north-bound lanes. Longino's vehicle continued left into the grassy median and continued until it was around the length of a football field just north of Gafford's vehicle and stuck in the median. Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department, Deputy Mike Nettles. Sergeant Jason Paske, Chief Deputy Byron Lyons, and Deputy Jacob Chapman (all with the Sheriff's Office) and Trooper Chris Cain with the Texas Highway Patrol. Judy Gafford miraculously survived and was extracted from her vehicle through the driver's side back door. She was loaded into an ambulance and treated as a PHi Air Medical Helicopter was summoned. Gafford was loaded onto the helicopter and flown to Hermann Hospital in Houston with head injuries. Traffic on the north and south-bound sides of 59 was blocked for a good while during cleanup and flight operations. According to Trooper Cain, the accident remains under investigation and no citations have been issued as of yet. Gafford's vehicle was recovered by a rollback wrecker from LakeView Wrecker Service and will be stored in Livingston, while Longino's rig was recovered by Riley Wrecker Service and will be stored in Corrigan. The scene was cleared by 7 pm.
WARNING: The images below show scenes from an 18 wheeler / car accident. Blood is visible in some pictures. If this offends you in any wayDO NOT scroll down this page.
Judy Gafford's 1998 Lincoln Town Car lays upside down and totaled on 59 north.
Aaron Longino (of Monroe Louisiana) tried to avoid striking Gafford's vehicle and ended up in the median about a football field further down the road from Gafford's vehicle.
Trooper Cain speaks with rig driver, Aaron Longino.
Deputy Mike Nettles (center) asssited in the investigation (also pictured is Deputy Jacob Chapman and Jason Paske (right)).
Damage to Longino's rig is visible on the front passenger's side.
Longino was hualing sheet metal that slid from the impact further damaging his cab.
JudyGafford was transferred from Americare Ambulance Service to EMS personnel from PHi Air Medical.
Gaffords was flown to Hermann Hospital in Houston with head injuries.
Gafford's vehicle was turned upright and recovered by LakeView Wrecker Service.
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