4 Wheeler Accident Claims Life of 20 Year Old Girl, SODA, September 5, 2010 - At approximately 3:30 pm on September 5, 2010, a red 1988 Honda 4Trax 200 was north-bound on Nursery Road just a couple of miles off of US-190 East. The driver of the 4 wheeler was 20 year old Vanessa Lee Rangel of Houston. Her 4 wheeler left the unpaved road to the right and struck a pine tree. Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with DPS Troopers Donny Akers, Sergeant Nita Bowen, Chris Stanbery, and Deputy Larry Pitts with the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Rangel had no pulse and not breathing. EMS Personnel (including Trooper Darwon Evans) began to administer CPR. Rangel was pronounced dead at Livingston Memorial Hospital. Passenger Brenda Bernice Bahena, 26, of Houston, is believed to have suffered internal injuries and was transported to Livingston Memorial Hospital where she was flown to Hermann Hospital in Houston. Traffic was not blocked during investigation and cleanup. The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The scene was cleared by 5:15 pm.
DPS Trooper Donny Akers with the Texas Highway Patrol (right) examines the 1988 Honda 4 wheeler. Akers is the investigating officer.
The 4 wheeler struck this pine tree.
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