3 Vehicle Crash, WEST TEMPE, September 14, 2026 – At approximately 4:02 pm on September 14, 2026, the driver of a gray 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix was west-bound on US-190 West when she was struck from behind by the a maroon 2010 Ford Expedition. The Expedition bounced off the Grand Prix and swerved right striking a white 2024 Kia Sorento. The driver of the Expedition then swerved left and left the pavement to the left and slid into the center median between the east and west-bound lanes. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with Sergeant Rey Davalos with The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and Corporal Ramey Bass with The Texas Highway Patrol. Fortunately nobody was injured. The driver of the Expedition (Douglas Champagne, 40, of Shepherd) is facing citations for driving while license invalid and failure to control speed. Traffic on the west-bound side of 190 was partially blocked during investigation and cleanup. Champagne’s vehicle was recovered by LakeView Wrecker out of Livingston, while the white Kia Sorento was recovered by Smith Towing out of Livingston. The gray Pontiac Grand Prix was towed by some friends.
Special thank you: Chad Summers
Video from scene below (video includes picture gallery from the scene)
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Conducts Labor Day Task Force, 51 Total Arrests, LIVINGSTON, September 8, 2026…
LABOR DAY TASK FORCE – ZERO TOLERANCE INITIATIVE
During this past weekend’s Labor Day holiday period, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office conducted a Labor Day Task Force – Zero Tolerance Initiative in coordination with multiple local and state law enforcement agencies.
The operation brought together officers from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Game Wardens, Onalaska Police Department, Alabama-Coushatta Police Department, Livingston Police Department, Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, Corrigan Police Department, Trinity River Authority (TRA) and State Park Police, for a coordinated enforcement effort throughout Polk County.
The primary goal of the initiative was increasing roadway safety in Polk County through proactive intervention and deterrence, while removing impaired, reckless and dangerous drivers from area roadways, combating illegal narcotics, apprehending wanted individuals, and addressing other criminal activity encountered during the operation.
Throughout the initiative, officers conducted proactive traffic enforcement, traffic stops, warrant checks, and criminal interdiction efforts throughout Polk County. These enforcement activities resulted in DWI arrests, narcotics-related arrests and seizures, warrant arrests, traffic enforcement actions, Sex Offender violations, Domestic Violence arrests and other criminal charges stemming from violations discovered during the operation.
The increased law enforcement presence throughout the holiday period served not only as an enforcement measure, but also as a visible deterrent to impaired driving, dangerous driving behaviors, and other criminal activity. Through proactive intervention, officers worked to identify potential threats before they resulted in serious crashes, injuries, or other incidents affecting public safety.
ENFORCEMENT RESULTS:
51 Total Arrests
14 Felony Arrests
13 Misdemeanor Arrests
11 DWI Arrests, (2 of which were charged with DWI – 3rd or More)
13 Drug-Related Arrests
3 Motor Vehicle Crashes (with no fatalities)
Sheriff Byron Lyons would like to thank all of our law enforcement partners for their participation, professionalism, and continued partnership with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The success of this initiative reflects our shared and continual commitment to protecting the roadways, communities, and citizens of Polk County.
TDC Van Struck by Oncoming Car, Multiple Hospitalized, LIVINGSTON, September 4, 2026 – At approximately 1:30 pm on September 4, 2026, the driver of a white 2025 Ford Escape was south-bound on US-59 Business in Livingston, as the driver was approaching the intersection of FM-1988 South (next to Thomas Supply), the driver of a prison van, loaded with prisoners pulled off of 1988 in an attempt to cross to business 59, but failed to yield. The Ford Escape struck the driver’s side back wheel causing the van to spin around facing it’s opposite direction of travel. The driver of the Ford Escape (names not yet released), and multiple prisoners were transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital with injuries. Livingston Police Department was dispatched to the scene as well as the Texas Highway Patrol. Trooper Damon Zarate is the primary investigator. Traffic on Business 59 was partially blocked during investigation and cleanup. The driver of the TDC van is likely facing a citation for failure to yield. The Ford Escape was recovered by Ken’s Towing and will be stored in Livingston, while the prison van was recovered by Smith Towing out of Livingston. This accident remains under investigation by The Texas Highway Patrol. PolkCountyToday.com will update this story when more information is made available.
Video from the scene below (video includes picture gallery)…
18 Wheelers Collided on 59, SKINNER TOWN, August 19, 2026 – Shortly before 5 am on August 19, 2026, the driver of an 18 wheeler hauling stainless steel pipes was south-bound on US-59 (a few miles north of FM-1987). The driver pulled into a crossover and attempted to pull into the north-bound lanes of 59 but allegedly failed to yield to another oncoming north-bound 18 wheeler. The north-bound 18 wheeler slammed into the trailer portion of the driver who was hauling pipe. The stainless steel pipes (extremely heavy) came off their trailer and slammed into the cab of the north-bound 18 wheeler, crushing the cab. The driver (names being withheld at this time) was pinned under his crushed cab with the heavy pipes on top. Riley Heavy Duty out of Corrigan was summoned to lift the pipes. The pipes were lifted enough to where volunteer firemen from Corrigan, Lufkin, Livingston, and Diboll could safely remove him. Firemen used the Jaws-of-Life to get the cab off of the driver. The driver was flown to Memorial Hermann. Traffic on the north-bound side of 59 was backed up for miles as the crash had both north-bound lanes completely blocked. Troopers including Corporal Ramey Bass (lead investigator) from Lufkin and Polk County were on the scene as well as deputies from The Polk County Sheriff’s Office. We will update this story as soon as driver’s names are released. This accident remains under investigation by The Texas Highway Patrol.
Special thank you: Ken with Ken’s Towing
Video from the scene below (video includes picture slide show)
2 Vehicle Crash, Multiple Hospitalized, SCHWAB CITY, August 12, 2026 – At approximately 12:24 pm on August 12, 2026, the a gray Honda Fit was north-bound on US-146. According to a witness, a south-bound silver 2008 Mercedes Benz ML-350 was swerving. The Mercedes allegedly swerved into the north-bound lane and swiped the driver’s side back half of the Honda. The impact caused the Honda to lose control, partially leave the pavement to the right, and roll. The Honda came to rest upright on the shoulder of 146. The Mercedes pulled to a stop on the shoulder of the south-bound lane. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with Holliday Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and Troopers Dave Swetnam and Terrence Dickens with The Texas Highway Patrol. The names of the drivers have not been released. The driver of the Mercedes is likely facing multiple citations. The driver of the Mercedes and the driver of the Honda were both transported to the hospital by ambulance (The driver of the Honda was a mother with four kids, all went to the hospital). There were no life threatening injuries. Both vehicles were recovered by Smith Towing (Smith Towing was assisted by Ken’s Towing). This accident remains under investigation by The Texas Highway Patrol.
Special thank you: Ken with Ken’s Towing
Video from the scene below
Glancing Head On Collision, 1 Person Flown, PROVIDENCE, August 11, 2026 – At approximately 9:52 am on August 11, 2026, a black 2021 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Jessica Heiman, 28, of Onalaska, was south-bound on US-146. As Heiman was about to pass Care Center Drive, the driver of a white 2019 Honda Fit, driven by Mary Kelley, 71, of Livingston pulled off of Care Center Drive and directly in front of Heiman. Heiman cut her wheel’s left as her front passenger’s side corner of her jeep scraped down the front of Kelley’s vehicle. Heiman’s vehicle left the pavement to the left (north-bound side) and came to rest in the weeds. Kelley’s vehicle spun around and came to rest facing west on the pavement. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with The Livingston Volunteer Fire Department, Deputies from The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and Corporal Ramey Bass with The Texas Highway Patrol. Heiman had no life threatening injuries, was out of her vehicle talking, while Kelley was loaded into an ambulance and prepped for flight. An AirLife Air Medical Helicopter landed in a field at Escapees RV Park. Kelley was flown from the scene. All traffic on 146 was blocked during investigation and cleanup. Kelley is likely facing a citation for failing to yield to Heiman. Kelley’s vehicle was recovered by Dan’s Towing out of Livingston, while Kelley’s vehicle was recovered by LakeView Wrecker (also out of Livingston). This accident remains under investigation by The Texas Highway Patrol.
Special thank you: Ken with Ken’s Towing
Video from the scene below
Driver Crashes Pickup, Arrested for DWI, LIVINGSTON, August 8, 2026 – At approximately 8:40 pm on August 8, 2026, the driver of a black 2013 GMC 2500 pickup was north-bound on FM-350 North (about six miles off 190 West). The driver entered a curve too fast and left the pavement to the right, struck several trees and ultimately came to rest beside the road on the right side of 350. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with The Livingston Volunteer Fire Department, Corporal Albert Richard and Deputy T. Smith with The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and Troopers Damon Zarate and Cesar Davila with The Texas Highway Patrol. The driver, James Munson, 39, of Livingston, refused medical treatment (but did have a cut on his head). Trooper Zarate administered a field sobriety test on Munson and placed Munson under arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Due to the tree in the road, and emergency vehicles at the scene, both lanes of 350 N. were blocked during investigation and cleanup. Munson’s vehicle was recovered by LakeView Wrecker Service out of Livingston. Munson was taken to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital for a blood withdrawal, then to Polk County Jail for booking.
Special thank you: Ken with Ken’s Towing
Video from the scene below
NAMES RELEASED FROM DOUBLE FATALITY CRASH: At approximately 1:04 am on August 3, 2026, a silver 2016 Jeep Cherokee was east-bound on FM-3126 when the driver left the pavement to the right, struck several trees and rolled. Both the driver, Landon Tyler Singleton, 19, of Livingston, and his passenger, Sierra Porter, 20, also of Livingston were ejected and killed. The vehicle came to rest in the wood line on the east-bound side of 190 just east of The Corner Shell.
This accident remains under investigation by The Texas Highway Patrol.
19 and 20 Year Old Perish in Single Vehicle Crash, BLANCHARD, August 3, 2026 – At approximately 1:04 am on August 3, 2026, the driver of a silver 2016 Jeep Cherokee was east-bound on US-190 West (a short distance east of The Corner Shell) when the driver left the pavement to the right, continued down an embankment and (appeared to have rolled) and crashed into the woodline on the right side of 190 East. During the rollover, the driver and passenger were ejected and killed. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with The Livingston Volunteer Fire Department, Deputies from The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and Troopers Terrence Dickens, Colton Lovell, and Sergeant Ethan McAdoo with The Texas Highway Patrol. When the vehicle came to rest in the wood line it caught fire. Firemen from Livingston put the fire out. Justice of the Peace Jamie Richardson was summoned and filed inquests at the scene. Traffic was not blocked during investigation and cleanup. The names of the victims have not yet been released pending notification of relatives. A first-call car from Cochran Funeral Home transported the victims from the scene. The vehicle was recovered by LakeView Wrecker out of Livingston. PolkCountyToday.com will update this story as soon as next of kin have been notified.
Special thank you: Ken with Ken’s Towing
Video from the scene below
