Published: August 13, 2008 01:33 am         

Wreck victim's status upgraded to 'fair'

PALESTINE — The condition of a 35-year-old Palestine man injured in a two-vehicle weekend collision which claimed the life of a Tennessee Colony woman has been upgraded to “fair,” according to a spokesperson for Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler.

Michael Howerton, 35, of Palestine sustained serious injuries as a result of the accident which occurred shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday on FM 321, approximately 1.7 miles east of Montalba, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Howerton was listed in “critical” condition the day following the accident, but his condition had been upgraded to “fair” as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to hospital spokesperson John Moore.

Killed in the two-vehicle accident was 26-year-old Misti Kroll of Tennessee Colony who was a passenger in Howerton’s 2000 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer, according to DPS Trooper Chad Sparkman who investigated the fatal accident.

Sparkman said the accident occurred around 9:35 p.m. Friday when a 18-wheel tractor trailer pulling a box trailer turned eastbound onto FM 321 out of a private driveway.

The Blazer, which was operated by Howerton and occupied by Kroll, was traveling westbound on FM 321 at “a high rate of speed” and struck the box trailer in the rear axle wheels, according to the trooper.

Howerton’s vehicle then overturned multiple times, ejecting both occupants _ neither of whom were wearing seat belts, according to Sparkman.

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

The driver of the 18-wheel tractor trailer was uninjured, according to the trooper.

Services for Kroll are set for 10 a.m. Thursday at Herrington/Land of Memory Chapel, with burial to follow at Land of Memory Cemetery.

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

     

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