Justice of the Peace, Robert "Dooley" Johnson (right) filed an inquest at the scene (Sergeant Ethan McAdoo also pictured).
Fatality as Driver Fails to Yield to 18 Wheeler, BARNUM, December 13, 2024 - At approximately 7:15 pm on December 12, 2024, family and friends were gathering at a residence off FM-287 East (10.5 miles off US-59). As one person was leaving, he pulled his car out of the driveway onto 287 but failed to yield to an east-bound oncoming 18 wheeler tanker driven by Delber Ray Clinard, 62, of Sperger.. Tragically, the semi couldn't avoid the car and the vehicles collided. The impact sent both vehicles off the pavement to the left. The car, a gray Lincoln sedan came to rest at the edge of the woods on the west-bound side. The tanker plowed into the trees. The driver of the car, Lonnie Lynn Johnson, 59, of Moscow was killed on impact. The driver of the semi was un injured. Allegiance Ambulance service was dispatched to the scene along with the Corrigan Volunteer Fire Department. Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, and Trooper Simon Mijardes with The Texas Highway Patrol. Trooper Mijardes was assisted by troopers from neighboring county and Sergeant Ethan McAdoo. Due to the tanker carrying liquid nitrous oxide, for safety, both ends of 287 was blocked off for about a mile in each direction from the accident. Fortunately, the tanker was not ruptured. A heavy duty wrecker from Riley Wrecker Service was summoned to clean up the mess. This accident remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol.
WARNING: The images and video below show scenes from a violent automobile vs semi accident. A small amount of blood is visible. If pictures of this nature offend you in any way, DO NOT scroll down this page.
59 year old Lonnie Lynn Johnson, of Moscow, was driving this Lincoln Sedan when he pulled out of the driveway at a residence off of FM-287 and failed to yield to an oncoming 18 wheeler.
62 year old Delber Ray Clinard, of Sperger, was driving this 18 wheeler/tanker east-bound when Johnson pulled out of a driveway failing to yield.
The cab of the semi was heavily damaged. Fortunately, the tank was not ruptured.
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