Published: August 09, 2008 09:12 pm      

One killed, one injured in wreck Friday night

A 26-year-old Tennessee Colony woman was killed and a 35-year-old Palestine man critically injured Friday night in a two-vehicle accident occurring just east of Montalba on FM 321.

Texas Department of Public Safety officials have identified the deceased woman as Misti Kroll, 26, of Tennessee Colony.

Kroll was a passenger in a 2000 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer operated by Michael Howerton, 35, of Palestine, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Chad Sparkman, who is investigating the fatal accident.

As of 6 p.m. Saturday, Howerton remained in “critical” condition at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Sparkman said the accident occurred around 9:35 p.m. Friday when a 18-wheel tractor trailer pulling a box trailer “pulled out of a private driveway going eastbound on FM 321,” approximately 1.7 miles east of Montalba.

“Unit Three (Chevrolet Blazer) which was driven by Howerton and also occupied by Kroll was traveling westbound on 321 at a high rate of speed,” Sparkman said. “Unit 3 struck Unit 2, which was the box trailer, in the rear axle wheels” on the left side.

The Chevrolet Blazer then overturned “several times ejecting both the driver (Howerton) and the passenger (Kroll) who were not wearing seat belts,” the trooper added.

Kroll was pronounced dead at the scene by Anderson County Justice of the Peace Carl Davis, according to the trooper.

Howerton, meanwhile, was lifeflighted from the scene to the Tyler hospital, according to Sparkman.

The driver of the tractor/trailer was uninjured, the trooper added.

The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement division of the DPS inspected the truck and trailer following the accident, but found no violations, according to Sparkman.

The trooper said late Saturday afternoon that his investigation into the fatal accident continues.

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