Oather Spencer's '95 Honda slammed into this Crepe Myrtle tree.
Driver Life-Flighted After Slamming Into Tree, GOODRICH, November 16, 2008 - At approximately 8:50 pm on November 16, 2008 a driver who was text messaging on his cell phone slammed head-on into a tree. The accident occurred when a red 1995 Honda Civic driven by Oather Ellis Spencer III was north-bound on US-59 in the Goodrich area was texting on his cell phone and his vehicle left the road to the left and slammed into a Crepe Myrtle tree in the median. Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene in addition to the Goodrich Volunteer Fire Department led by Chief Kenneth Hambrick, the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department Heavy Rescue led by Chief Corky Cochran, DPS Troopers Kevin Burman and Brent Murray and Sergeant William Jerry from the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Spencer was trapped in his vehicle as a surplus of volunteer firemen utilized the Jaws-of-Life to extract Spencer from his car. Spencer's airbag deployed. Both lanes of 59 North were blocked as a life-flight helicopter was flown in and transported Spencer to Hermann Hospital in Houston. Spencer will be issued a citation for failure to maintain a single lane and possible DWI charges pending toxicology reports. A rollback wrecker from LakeView Wrecker Service arrived to recover the totaled vehicle and it will be stored at J & T Auto Body in Livingston. The scene was cleared and traffic fully flowing shortly after 10 pm.
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