By STACY FAISON/The Lufkin News
A Conroe man died following a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 59 just south of Tenaha in Shelby County early Saturday morning, according to a press release from Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. David Hendry.
Joseph Cargal, 68, was pronounced dead at the scene by a Shelby County justice of the peace following the 1:40 a.m. accident, according to the release.
A 2017 Peterbilt truck tractor semi-trailer traveling south on Highway 59 reportedly swerved to the left to avoid a tree that had fallen into the roadway and drove into the northbound lanes, striking a 2002 Sterling tractor semi-trailer driven by Cargal head-on, the release stated. The Sterling truck tractor then caught fire.
The driver of the Peterbilt, David Forehand, 57, of El Lago, was taken to a Nacogdoches hospital and later transported to a Tyler hospital for treatment, according to the release.
The highway was closed and traffic was detoured for most of the day while investigators and first responders worked to clear the scene.