Wrecks frequent at U.S. 59 site where couple killed
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

A U.S. 59 crossover where an elderly couple was killed this week has been the site of several car accidents in the past, Wharton police officials said.

They now hope the state highway department follows through with plans to construct a new feeder road along U.S. 59 in front of Nan Ya Plastics and J-M Manufacturing.

"It's a bad intersection and we've had other accidents there before," said Detective Joey Galloway of the Wharton Police Department. "We're really glad TxDOT is in the process (of doing something)."

The crossover is located just below the FM 102/U.S. 59 overpass. It allows semi-trucks to exit J-M and Nan Ya and headk south on the freeway.

Police said an 18-wheeler was attempting to do just that around 8 p.m. Tuesday night. The 2005 Kenworth tractor driven by 51-year-old Nathaniel Curtis Pittman of Houston was pulling a utility trailer and had just left J-M Manufacturing.

As the truck entered the crossover to turn south, its trailer "was blocking both northbound lanes," according to the accident report.

Masseguin Victor Roland, a French national, was traveling northbound in a rented Nissan Morano. His passenger, Jacqueline F. Allain, also a French national who was residing in Houston. Both were 65 years old.Police said the Nissan smashed into the back left quarter of the truck's trailer. The car spun once and careened into the median.

The impact was at a high rate of speed, Galloway said.

"There were no indications of braking at all," he added.

The car struck the last 18- inches of the trailer, which is strengthened with steel and is one of the strongest sections, according to police.

The impact tore off the Nissan's roof. Both Roland and Allain suffered massive head injuries. Roland was pronounced dead at the scene. Allain was taken by ambulance to Gulf Coast Medical Center, where she later died. Both were wearing seat belts.

The truck driver was uninjured.

Traffic was backed up for hours as cars had to be diverted through the city of Wharton. A second accident occurred during the traffic jam, but no injuries resulted.

Department of Public Safety accident investigators assisted Wharton police Thursday with creating a computer map of the accident scene. Police were also considering trying to recover the Nissan's internal computer, in the hopes of discovering how fast the car was driving.

It's unclear who was at fault. Police said it's possible Pittman failed to yield right of way to the oncoming car and headed out into the crossover. But the highway also curves at that point, and Galloway said the truck driver may have seen a clear highway when he began to cross.

Galloway said Friday it "appears that the truck was in motion" when the crash occurred.

A blood sample was taken from the truck driver at the hospital, but police said drugs or alcohol are not suspected. The investigation is ongoing.

"We'll present my findings to the District Attorney and go from there," Galloway said.