Published: June 15, 2006 02:37 pm      

Woman critically injured in wreck

Palestine — A 19-year-old Palestine woman was critically injured in a Sunday afternoon accident at the intersection of North Loop 256 and Sterne Avenue apparently caused when the operator of a truck/tractor ran a red light.

Martha Michelle Gaines, 19, of Palestine was listed in “critical but stable” condition Monday morning at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, according to Palestine Police Sgt. Pete Todd.

Gaines sustained injuries of unknown type shortly after 12:15 p.m. Sunday when her 2000 Buick Park Avenue was struck by a 1990 GMC truck/tractor operated by 46-year-old Kenneth Lee Woodworth of White Oak, according to Todd.

Todd said Texas Department of Public Safety officials have determined that Woodworth’s vehicle had “no trailer brakes.”

No charges were filed in relation to Sunday’s accident, but are “pending” depending on Gaines’ status, according to police.

Todd explained Woodworth was traveling southbound on North Loop 256 when he apparently ran a red light and struck Gaines’ vehicle which was traveling eastbound through the intersection on Sterne Avenue.

“It is what is referred to as a T-bone,” Todd said. “She got hit right at the middle of the car (on the driver’s side).”

A Palestine police accident report indicated Woodworth’s “registered gross vehicle weight” was 72,000 pounds. He was hauling some type of oilfield equipment, according to Todd.

Neither vehicle had additional passengers, according to police.

The impact of the collision knocked Gaines’ vehicle into a third vehicle — a 1998 Ford Ranger pickup — operated by 57-year-old Gary L. Hughes of Palestine, according to police.

Gary L. Hughes and his wife, Louise Hughes, 57, of Palestine, were both transported to Palestine Regional Medical Center following the accident, but their injuries were not believed to be serious, according to police.

Woodworth was uninjured, according to Todd.

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com