Athens —
A two-vehicle collision in Tyler, Friday, killed an Athens woman and critically injured her husband when the minivan she was driving was struck by a suspected drunk driver.
Seventy-three-year-old Nancy Dale Slagle died in the wreck. Her husband, William Eugene Slagle, 72, was transported to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler where he is in critical condition.
Tyler Police Department Information Officer Donald Martin said a Chevrolet Truck driven by Eduardo Flores, 23, was northbound on U.S. Highway 271, shortly after 11 p.m., when it crossed the median into opposing traffic. The vehicles collided head-on.
Nancy Dale Slagle died at the scene of the wreck. Martin said all traffic on Highway 271 had to be rerouted into the northbound lanes, while the crash was being worked.
According to TPD reports, Flores was treated and released at Mother Francis Hospital. The suspect was then booked into Smith County Jail for intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault. The crash is still under investigation.
The Slagles, better known as Gene and Dale, founded the Country Oaks Golf Course in Cross Roads, and operated it for many years. Their son, Mike, said his father built the course from scratch out of a wooded setting.
“It was his design, and his doing,” Mike Slagle said.
On Monday afternoon, William Slagle remained in intensive care at ETMC Tyler. Because of severity of his father’s injuries, Mike Slagle said any memorial service for his mother will be delayed until the family knows the outcome of his father’s hospital stay.
At that time, the family will make an announcement concerning a memorial service.
“We have nothing whatsoever against the young man who hit them,” Mike Slagle said. “He has made a very bad decision.”
Mike Slagle said he was saddened to see comments posted on the Internet after the wreck concerning Flores’ ethnic background.
“That had nothing to do with the wreck,” Mike Slagle said.
Local News
Woman dies in collision
Husband, who is founder of Cross Roads golf course, in critical condition
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