HIGHWAY 79 BACK OPEN AFTER DEADLY WRECK INVOLVING A HEAD ON COLLISION BETWEEN A PICKUP TRUCK AND AN 18-WHEELER. A CHEVY PICKUP, HEADED NORTH ON HWY 79, CROSSED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A 2013 PETERBILT TRUCK, PULLING AN EMPTY GRAIN TRAILER.

HIGHWAY 79 BACK OPEN AFTER DEADLY WRECK INVOLVING A HEAD ON COLLISION BETWEEN A PICKUP TRUCK AND AN 18-WHEELER.  A CHEVY PICKUP, HEADED NORTH ON HWY 79, CROSSED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH A 2013 PETERBILT TRUCK, PULLING AN EMPTY GRAIN TRAILER.

FRANKLIN – From DPS Trooper Jimmy Morgan:

The driver of the 2012 Chevy pickup has been identified as Michael Edward Fletcher, 48, from Bryan.

The truck driver has been identified as
David Wayne Erskine, 53, from Groesbeck.
Erskine is last listed in serious condition.

FINAL UPDATE from TxDOT:

All lanes of US 79 are now open and everything is clear. Please drive safe.

**UPDATE***

From TxDOT:

10:30 UPDATE on Accident on US 79 in Robertson County
One lane of traffic is now open. Traffic is being flagged through one lane at a time while emergency personal continue to work the accident.

We will keep you posted on any updates.

****

Highway 79 is closed, three miles south of Franklin, because of a fiery head-on collision between a pickup truck and an 18-wheeler.

According to State Troopers, a Chevy pickup, headed north on Hwy 79, crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a 2013 Peterbilt Truck, pulling an empty grain trailer. The wreck happened around 6:15 a.m.

The pickup, which DPS says was an oil field service truck, burst into flames. The driver was pronounced dead on scene. We do not know their identity.

Crews had to cut the driver out of the 18-wheeler rig. The driver was taken to St Joseph Regional Health Center and is listed in serious condition. 

Jesse Walton takes Highway 79 each day.

"Makes me want to not to go to work and go back to the house and hug my wife and my kid," Walton said.

Multiple agencies are working the accident, including the Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Transportation, Robertson County EMS, Franklin Volunteer Fire Department and EMS and the Hearne Volunteer Fire Department.

A TxDOT spokesman says there is some damage to the road. Crews will start repairs once all the debris is removed.