NEWS
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
It is one of those massive tragedies that touches the nation, the deaths of nine people in a two-vehicle accident; however, the loss of so many young lives came home to Nocona with the death of 2021 graduate Laci Stone in this crash.
The 18-year-old was attending the University of the Southwest and playing golf for the school. She along with six of her golf teammates from the girl’s and boy’s teams and the head coach, lost their lives in the crash outside Andrews, TX.
Two team members were hospitalized in a Lubbock hospital with critical injuries after being airlifted from the scene. Two people from the other vehicle, driver Henrich Siemens, 38, Seminole, and a 13-year-old boy also were killed.
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board conducted a press conference Thursday reporting the 13-year-old boy was driving the Dodge pickup when it crashed into the van.
NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg said the early investigation revealed the truck had a spare tire with a steel rim in place of its left front tire. That tire seemed to have failed, causing the truck to swerve in front of the van. The truck also was said to be traveling at a high rate of speed.
The NTSB staff noted several of the students in the van were not wearing seatbelts and at least one van passenger was ejected. Both vehicles caught fire and DPS reports several people tried to get people out of the van but the fire was too hot.
Those killed from USW included Coach Tyler James, 26; Laci Stone, 18; Mauricio Sanchez, 19; Travis Garcia, 19; Jackson Zinn, 22; Karisa Raines, 21 and Tiago Sousa, 18. The two surviving golf team members, Hayden Underhill and Dayton Price are recovering and stable at a Lubbock hospital according to USW officials.
Read the full story in the Saturday Bowie News as friends and former coaches remember Laci Stone.
The Laci Stone Memorial Fund has been set up at several local banks including First State Bank, Legend Bank and Wells Fargo. There also is a Venmo account set up under Chelsi Stone @lovelikelaci.
A gofundme account also has been set up as Laci Stone Memorial at https://gofund.me/c425161f.
The Bowie City Council has cancelled its Jan. 14 meeting due to a lack of a quorum. No date has been announced for the next meeting, but the regular date would be Jan. 28.
The Bowie News was overwhelmed with more than 400 snow day photos sent in from across the county. Please view them on our Facebook page. We will publish many in the Thursday Bowie News. Thank you to everyone who sent them in.
Top photo – Brandee Mumms and her family put together a snowman.
WICHITA FALLS DISTRICT – TxDOT maintenance crews cleared all Tier 1 and Tier 2 highways
today. Snowplows started running between Midnight and 4 am across the region. Tonight, we
are expecting slick conditions because of refreeze. Bridges and overpasses will be particularly
icy.
Archer City Office: Archer county is reporting wet roads on their Tier 1 roadways including US
281 and SH-79. They are planning to run plows on secondary roads this evening. Slick spots on
bridges and overpasses are expected overnight.
Bowie and Nocona Offices: Bowie and Nocona kept highways US 287, US 82, US 81, and SH59 constantly cleared today. The area’s primary roads are in great shape. The crew plans to
expand to SH-175 in Montague and Nocona overnight.
Gainesville Office: The Gainesville office is responsible for taking care of more than 20 miles of
I-35. Crews worked hard today to keep I-35 in great condition and keep the Interstate traffic
moving. US 82 is also a high priority highway, and the plows were on it all day. The office has
been able to plow some of their higher volume FM roads. Refreeze will also be a big concern in
Cooke County.
Graham Office: Graham’s crew got their primary roads in top shape today. However, the
Area Engineer, Zach Husen, wants to remind everyone that bridges and overpasses will refreeze
tonight. There will be ice on the lane markings as well as the shoulders. Graham has already
been able to start plowing FM’s which they will work on tonight as well.
Henrietta and Clay County Office: Our maintenance office in Henrietta services all of Clay
County. US 287 is their Tier 1 roadway that was very good shape this afternoon. The crew has
already started plowing lesser traveled roads and will continue to plow new highways while
maintaining the best service possible on US 287. The maintenance supervisor, Darin Reed, is
concerned about snow and runoff refreezing tonight. Drivers should be cautious and watch for
black ice.
Vernon, Wilbarger County Office: The Vernon crew kept US 287 in good shape today. They
were able to work on other primary and secondary roads in their area. Refreeze is the main
concern for tonight.
Wichita Falls Office: Crews plowed their major roadways in top shape including I-44, US 287,
and US 82 (Kell Fwy) as well as the area’s secondary highways. This crew will continue to keep
control of these major roadways throughout the night.
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Wet roadway conditions with slick spots are expected across the entire district. Refreezing will
happen on plowed highways and unplowed roads. Overpasses and bridges will be the first to
freeze and the last to thaw. Motorists should be on the watch for black ice.
Motorists can obtain travel information, road conditions and see 15 Wichita Falls traffic cameras
and 1 Vernon camera by visiting DriveTexas.org or calling (800) 452-9292. Traffic cameras are
also at TxDOT.Gov.
Remember to follow the Wichita Falls District on our Facebook page,
www.Facebook.com/TxDOTWichitaFalls and on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/TxDOTWF
If you experience any emergency on the road, call 9-1-1 for help.
Drivers are urged to follow these precautions:
Reduce speed. Speed limits are based on normal dry road and weather
conditions, not winter road conditions. Do not use cruise control.
Turn on your headlights. It is not for you…it’s so other drivers can see you.
Maintain at least three times the normal following distance on snow or ice.
Watch carefully for personnel, equipment treating roadways, and stay at least
200 feet back from road crews. Don’t Crowd the Plows.
Use extra caution on bridges, ramps, overpasses, intersections, and shaded
areas as they tend to freeze first and thaw last.
If you start to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes. Steer into the direction
that you want to go until you feel you have regained traction, and then
straighten your vehicle.
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