Wet road creates slick danger
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

Nathan Straus Photo This Mercury Mountaineer was totaled after flipping three times on FM-315 South of Chandler Monday.

At 1:57 pm Monday, October 8, a Mercury Mountaineer hit slippery roads and dove into a ditch, flipping several times before coming to a stop on the side of the road. A tow truck was required to pull the vehicle out of a ditch along the side of FM-315.

James Lehman, Chandler Police Department assistant chief of police, said the accident was a result of a recent afternoon shower.

"She got in that curve and lost control," Lehman said, "hit the ditch nose-first and it looks like she rolled three times or so."

The driver, Suzanne Beams, was taken to East Texas Medical Center of Tyler. Lehman said it appeared she had suffered mainly superficial injuries from the wreck.

"She was doggone lucky," Lehman said, surveying the rubble and trash on the ground. "If she had passengers it is possible there would have been some fatalities."

The rear of the vehicle was smashed open and the Mountaineer's contents were being picked off the ground as of 2:15 pm. Lehman said the cleanup time was around 45 minutes altogether.

Lehman also said SUVs such as the Mountaineer have a tendency to be top-heavy, and may flip over if the driver overcompensates during a turn.

"The speed limit is 45 miles per hour on this curve and that's for ideal conditions," Lehman said. "When it's raining people need to slow it down. We have accidents on this curve just about every time we have a storm."

The vehicle was totaled and Lehman said the cost of repair could reach $10,000.