West Texas teen dies in accident

By PAUL STONE
The Palestine Herald

PALESTINE April 22, 2008 12:55 am

— A West Texas teenager was killed and two others injured as a result of a single-vehicle traffic accident Sunday morning outside of Palestine.
Anna Marie Clark, 16, of Cisco was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident which occurred shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday on CR 370, also known as Lost Prairie Lake Road, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson.
Two other persons who were passengers in a 1996 Ford F-150 pickup operated by Clark were transported to area hospitals following the accident which was reported at 9:56 a.m. Sunday, according to the DPS.
James Arthur McLeod, 18, of Cisco was listed in “serious” condition at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler as of late Monday afternoon, according to hospital spokesperson John Moore.
McLeod was lifeflighted to the Tyler hospital from the scene following the accident, according to the DPS spokesperson.
Also, Rachael Brown, 17, of Cisco was transported to Palestine Regional Medical Center following the accident with unspecified injuries. Her condition was unknown as of late Monday afternoon.
The accident occurred when Clark apparently lost control of the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed, according to the DPS spokesperson.
“Unit One was traveling north on County Road 370,” the DPS spokesperson said. “Unit One was traveling at a high rate of speed. Unit One left the northbound side of County Road 370; drove into the ditch; and struck two large trees.
“Unit One rolled over and came to rest on its top facing east,” the spokesperson continued. “The driver and right passenger (McLeod) were ejected. The middle passenger (Brown) remained in the vehicle. None of them were wearing their safety harnesses.”
Cisco is located approximately 100 miles west of Fort Worth.
DPS Trooper Lynn Hubert is investigating the fatal accident.