RANGER, TX (12/19/2015) — The driver of a tractor trailer caused a head-on collision that killed Olivia Whitt and injured Melissa and Buddy Whitt on Saturday night.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), 10-year-old Olivia Eusta Whitt was killed when the vehicle in which she was riding was struck head-on by an 18-wheeler.
This accident, which occurred along FM 2214 in Ranger, Texas, also injured 42-year-old Melissa Carol Whitt and 39-year-old Buddy Joe Whitt.
DPS reported that at around 10:26 p.m., 36-year-old Jose Antonio Medina-Servantes was traveling northbound in a 2003 International semi truck (pulling a trailer) when he crossed into southbound traffic and struck a 2009 Ford passenger car, driven by Melissa Whitt, on the front-right corner.
Olivia Whitt was taken to Eastland Memorial Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Melissa Whitt was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas with critical and incapacitating injuries.
A second passenger in the Ford, Buddy Whitt, was injured and taken to Eastland Memorial Hospital. He has since been treated and released.
Medina-Servantes was not injured in the wreckage.
Commentary
Frederick Biddle with the DPS stated that “There have been a couple of head-on crashes recently while on open roads and with good road conditions. Although the cause of recent crashes are under investigation and still unknown, I’d like to remind travelers to pay close attention when driving. With the added holiday traffic, give yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going and limit distractions in your vehicle.”
Statistics show that in 2014, Texas experienced 121 fatal accidents between the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year holiday periods alone. Even with clear conditions, we urge drivers to scan the roads properly and treat every vehicle as a potential danger.
