Head-on collision claims two lives near Brownsboro
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

This accident Monday afternoon on FM-314 south near New Hope United Methodist Church left the drivers of a Ford Freestar and Ford Ranger dead. Victims were 58- year-old James Carter and 19-year-old Heather Crouch. Right, volunteer firefighters use the Jaws of Life on the blue Ford Ranger driven by Carter.

Two drivers are dead following an early afternoon accident Monday. The fatal wreck occurred along south FM 314, approximately six miles south of Highway 31 and four miles south of the Brownsboro city limits. The driver of each vehicle, the only occupants, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Heather Crouch, 19-yearold Frankston resident and employee of the Chandler Sonic Drive-in, was traveling southbound on FM 314 at around 1:18 pm Monday, April 21 when her white 2005 Ford Freestar van collided with a 1993 blue Ford Ranger driven by 58 year-old James Anthony Carter, a retiree living in Brownsboro, was heading northbound.

Crouch was headed into a curve near the New Hope Methodist Church when her vehicle's right side left the road where she overcorrected, steering her van into the northbound lane and into the path of Carter's Ranger. The vehicles collided with a powerful front left corner impact.

Nathan Straus Photos

Marcell Rountree, a resident of the area, said she heard a loud noise similar to an explosion.

"I was working in the garden and I heard a big, loud noise," Rountree said.

Rountree added she thought it sad how travelers drive along 314, and noted many people drive very poorly along the road.

Responding to the scene were volunteer firefighters from the Brownsboro, Chan- dler, Murchison and Westside departments along with East Texas Medical Center ambulance and medical helicopter.

Russell Kuhns, firefighter for Brownsboro Volunteer Fire Department, said the call was sent out at 1:18 pm.

"This is only too common a sight," Kuhns said.

James Martin, Department of Public Safety investigating officer, said the accident is still under investigation and he doesn't know when it will be finished.

Martin said the bodies were transported to South East Texas Forensics in Tyler by Carroll and Lehr Funeral Home of Athens.

The accident forced traffic to take a detour for several hours while officers investigated the accident. The road was not reopened until approximately 5:45 pm.

Donna Tyndell, general manager at the Sonic Drivein where Crouch worked, said Heather Crouch was a wonderful person and a pleasure to work with.

"I could hire a lot of people," Tyndell said, "but I could never replace her."

Crouch started work at the drive-in March 25, 2006. She graduated from Brownsboro High School and was attending Trinity Valley Community College. Crouch had a twoyear old and a six-month-old child.

Tyndell said she is going to start a fund for Crouch's children as soon as her family finishes with the funeral arrangements.

The Sonic employees are holding up fairly well, Tyndell also said, though the night crew will be the hardest hit by this tragedy.

"They were all a pretty tight bunch, like a family," Tyndell said.