UPDATE ON 18 WHEELER/SCHOOL BUS SITUATION: At 4:15 pm on December 7, 2023, a Livingston ISD school bus was in the north-bound lane of 59 (right lane) letting a 15 year old male student off the bus when a Kenworth 18 wheeler driven by Gregory Jackson, 41, of Texarkana, came up behind the bus way too fast. Jackson cut right and scraped down the side of a white Toyota Corolla driven by Autumn Witt, 28, of Lufkin, that was between Jackson and the school bus. Jackson continued around the bus striking the 15 year old student and killing him. Jackson continued around the bus, re-entered the pavement and came to a stop in the left lane ahead of the bus. Autumn Witt, after being struck by Jackson drove around the bus to the left and came to rest in front of the bus. Witt, nor the school bus driver, nor Jackson were injured in this incident. Jackson is currently in Polk County Jail facing charges. This accident remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol.
ORIGINAL STORY BELOW
Child Deceased in 18 Wheeler/School Bus Situation, LIVINGSTON, December 7, 2023 - At approximately 4:15 pm on December 7, 2023, a Livingston ISD school bus was letting a child off. At that very moment, an 18 wheeler was coming up behind the bus and the driver of the 18 wheeler didn't notice until the last second that there was a stopped school bus letting off a child. The driver of the 18 wheeler cut right to avoid striking the school bus and struck the child. The child was deceased on impact, the driver of the 18 wheeler pulled his rig to back up onto the pavement on the left side where he came to a stop. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene and a host of law enforcement including Livingston Police Department, the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Constable Kevin Burman, and Troopers Cotye Lowrie, Corporal Ramey Bass, and Sergeant Allen Stanton (all with the Texas Highway Patrol). All traffic the north-bound side of 59 was blocked for investigation and cleanup. The driver of the 18 wheeler is suspected of intoxication. There was also a white Toyota Corolla involved in the accident, but we have not yet received the information on how. The driver of the 18 wheeler was taken to Chi Livingston Memorial Hospital for a blood withdrawal, and then summarily transported to Polk County Jail. PolkCountyToday.com will update this story as soon as we receive more information.
Special thank you: Tim F. and Country Boy Towing
EDITOR'S NOTE: Although the 18 wheeler has the word "Livingston" in big letters, coincidentally, that is the name of the trucking company and it has nothing to do with Livingston Texas or any place in Polk County. (We've had lots of people ask us about this).
Trooper Cotye Lowrie questions the driver of the 18 wheeler. The driver allegedly smelled of marijuana.
This Toyota Corolla was somehow involved in this accident.
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