Corporal Sam Lattner with the Texas Highway Patrol examines Melvin Lee Sanders' 1998 Chevy Cavalier.
2 Vehicle Accident, 1 Hospitalized, Alcohol Suspected, LEGGETT, December 12, 2010 - At approximately 8:12 pm on December 12, 2010, a red 1998 Chevy Cavalier driven by Melvin Lee Sanders, Jr., 64, of Livingston, pulled onto 59 south from FM-942 East but failed to yield right-of-way to a south-bound red 1988 Chevy 3500 utility truck driven by Richard Delane Rhodes, 44, of Marion, Louisiana. The collision spun Sanders' vehicle around and it crossed back over the north-bound lanes into the grass and slammed into a tree. Rhodes' vehicle came to rest on the shoulder of the south-bound lanes of 59. Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and DPS Troopers Darwon Evans, Sergeant Nita Bowen, Corporal Sam Lattner, and Kevin Burman. EMS Personnel removed Sanders from his vehicle, loaded him onto an ambulance and transported him to Livingston Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Richard Rhodes was physically okay. Both parties had insurance. According to DPS, alcohol is suspected and, pending tests, Sanders could be charged with driving while intoxicated. Traffic was not blocked during investigation and cleanup. Rhodes' vehicle was recovered by a rollback wrecker from Ken's Towing and will be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston while Sanders' vehicle was recovered by a rollback wrecker from LakeView Wrecker Service and will also be stored in Livingston. The scene was cleared by 9:30 pm.
Special thank you: Ken from Ken's Towing and Brian Cox.
WARNING: Some images below are graphic and contain blood. If this offends you DO NOT scroll down this page.
Richard Delane Rhodes' 1988 Chevy utility truck came to rest on the right shoulder of US-59 south.
Rhodes' truck slammed into Sanders' vehicle when Sanders failed to yield right-of-way.
EMS personnel tend to Melvin Sanders.
Trooper Darwon Evans (left) investigates. Sanders is suspected of driving while intoxicated.
Jeff with LakeView Towing recovered Sanders' vehicle.
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