Two wrecks attributed to ‘distracted’ driving

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A Blevins employee inspects a damaged tire after an afternoon wreck. Progress photo by Amy Brocato Pearson

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November 8, 2012

Two wrecks attributed to ‘distracted’ driving

Amy Brocato Pearson Jacksonville Daily Progress The Jacksonville Daily Progress Thu Nov 08, 2012, 09:55 AM CST

JACKSONVILLE — An early afternoon accident snarled traffic in both directions near the 1200 block of W. Rusk Street as cars were forced to stop in all four lanes while the debris was cleared.

The accident happened about 1:20 p.m., said Jacksonville Police Sergeant Jason Price.

An 18-wheeler, belonging to Blevins Inc., a distributor of manufactured home hardware, plumbing, electrical and repair supplies to parts stores, was westbound en route to Palestine when a black sedan, traveling east bound, crossed the center line twice and eventually struck the truck near the driver's side front axel while the driver of the truck was trying to change lanes to avoid a collision.

"I kept seeing the car cross the yellow lines," said the driver of the 18-wheeler, who declined to give his name to the Daily Progress. "I kept moving over, I was watching her. 'You're not going to hit me,' I said."

Ultimately the sedan struck the truck near the intersection of West Rusk and Gillespie Road, pushing the 53-foot truck back several yards.

Sgt. Price said no extraction equipment was needed to free the driver of the mangled sedan, who was transported to a local hospital.

Repeatedly crossing the center line of a roadway could indicate distracted or intoxicated driving, Price said, although he did not speak with the driver of the sedan at the scene of the accident.

The driver of the 18-wheeler was not injured, although he was shaken up.

"Ironically," he said. "I published a book that came out just last week about a long haul driver who was involved in a bad wreck." The book, "The Long Haul," was written under the name "William Tellot."

Another distracted driving accident occurred on the Loop and Hwy 69 about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday morning, said Sgt. Price, who had also responded to that call.

"A vehicle entered the intersection when it was not safe or legal to do so and struck another vehicle," he said. "It was a case of distracted driving."

The female drivers of both of those vehicles were transported by ambulance to area hospitals.

None of the conditions – or names – of the drivers were known at press time.

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Two wrecks attributed to ‘distracted’ driving

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