Head On Accident on 96 South - March 4, 2010 (Updated)
Story and photos by Richard Hughes

The driver of the 1997 Malibu, Jorge Ivan Hernandez, 29, of Center, was pronounced dead at 7:58 p.m. at Good Shepherd Hospital.

(additional photo by Kemi Faulkenbery)

Around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Center Police and emergency personnel responded to an accident on Hwy. 96 South just past Campbell Portable Buildings. Sources at the scene stated that a Chevrolet Malibu had left the square at a high speed, cut across the parking lot of the Tecto Service Station jumping curbs back on to 96 South. Still driving at a high speed, side-swiped a cargo trailer being pulled by a pickup, then struck another pickup's back bumper. The driver then crossed the center stripe striking an oncoming dually trailering a backhoe, then spun around coming to rest in the middle of the highway. Emergency personnel had to use the JAWS to cut the top off the car to get the driver, an unidentified Hispanic man, out of the vehicle. A helicopter was called to transport the driver to a hospital. The only injury reported was that of the driver of the Malibu. The driver of the dually seemed to be uninjured but went to the hospital as a cautionary measure. An official statement will follow as soon as it is available.