The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 118, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 8, 2008 Page: 4 of 32
thirty two pages : ill. ; page 12 x 10.5 in.View a full description of this newspaper.
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THURSDAY S MAY 2DDS
THE CANADIAN RECORD
The wreckage of two
tractor trailers shut traf-
fic down to a trickle near
the intersections of High-
ways 60 and 83 north of
Canadian Monday eve-
ning. Emergency workers
labored for hours to clear
debris from the roadway
following the near head-
on collision.
Lefors man seriously injured in two-vehicle
collision Monday on US 60/83 north of town
A collision between two semi's Monday evening
near the Oasis Truck Stop north of Canadian re-
sulted in serious injuries to one driver who—follow-
ing a 45-minute extrication by paramedics and vol-
unteer firemen—was airlifted to Amarillo's North-
west Texas Hospital. The tangled wreckage of the
two trucks and their cargo backed up traffic for at
least an hour near the heavily-traveled "unction of
Highways 60 and 83, which continues to be the site
of frequent accidents despite extensive highway de-
partment efforts to improve safety at that ntersec-
The accident occurred around 6 p.m. Monday
when a 2006 Mack Truck driven by Jeff Kent, haul-
ng water for Turner Energy Services, collided
with a 2002 International, driven by Charles Burns
and hauling drilling mud for SunWest.
Burns, 37, of Weatherford, was heading north
and attempting to turn nto the Oasis when Kent's
truck struck the back trailer portion of the flatbed
as he turned onto U.S. 60. The impact caused the Paramedics, firefighters and law enforcement officers worked for 45 minutes to extricate DPS Trooper Mike Sims investigated the acci-
SunWest truck to turn over as the Turner Energy truck driver Jeff Kent from the cab of the semi-tractor he was driving when it collided dent, and at last report, had still not determined
n contact with a seat and begun smoldering.
Paramedics stabilized Kent using a C-collar
and backboard, cutting away the steering wheel
and seatbelt and transferring the injured man to a
stretcher. He was taken by ambulance to Hemphill
County Hospital, and then transferred to a Lifes-
tar Helicopter for transport to Amarillo. Kent was
reported in stable condition Tuesday, having sus-
tained a broken neck, multiple head lacerations and
other njuries in the accident.
Traffic was diverted slowly through the Oasis
parking lot and allowed to continue on its way as
the extrication and cleanup continued. Debris from
the wreckage, and from the spilled trailer load of
drilling mud, kept emergency responders at the
scene into the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Fire Chief Scott Brewster said three truckloads of
water were needed to wash off the finely ground-up
rock, oil and other debris which covered the road-
way.
truck flipped onto the passenger side and skidded with another truck near the Oasis Truck Stop Monday evening.
for about 200' before coming to rest in the north-
bound lane.
Kent, 51, of Lefors, was trapped upside down in the man-
gled cab of his tractor-trailer, restrained by his seatbelt and
the steering wheel. Burns sustained only minor injuries and
was able to walk away from his truck.
Two Hemphill County EMS units and six fire department
units from Canadian and Higgins responded to the scene.
Paramedics worked alongside firemen and local law enforce-
ment officers to safely extricate Kent from the wreckage. A
front-end loader was commandeered from nearby Canadian
Redi-Mix to pry the metal away and insert a spreader into
the truck's cab.
Other firemen stood at the ready with water hoses i a case
of fire. Smoke rose from the motor, where the turbo had come
conclusively who was at fault due to some discrep-
ancy n statements from witnesses and from com-
pany officials. The investigation was still under-
way, he said, pending his iter views with other witnesses.
The intersection of U.S. Highways 60 and 83 just north of
Canadian has been the scene of an increasing number of acci-
dents in the last few years despite extensive safety improve-
ments made by TxDOT. including nstallation of new turn
lanes, warning lights, rumble strips and overhead lighting.
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Brown, Laurie Ezzell. The Canadian Record (Canadian, Tex.), Vol. 118, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 8, 2008, newspaper, May 8, 2008; Canadian, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth252703/m1/4/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hemphill County Library.