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    Morning wreck on 19

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December 3, 2009

Two die in morning crash

Man swerves, dodges deer, causes head-on collision

By Robby Robertson Staff Writer

An early morning head-on collision left two people dead, and one injured south of Athens.

The wreck happened on State Highway 19, about five miles outside of Loop 7 Thursday.

Ruth Hellickson, 65, was killed on impact, while her husband, Barney, 66, died while being transported by East Texas Medical Center’s Air One. The couple was from Grapeland.

According to reports, Spencer Pesce, 29, was driving a Union Pacific work truck headed southbound. He told troopers, while being treated at ETMC-Athens, he topped the hill, and a deer ran out in front of him.

He reportedly swerved to miss the deer, and over-corrected into the oncoming lane of traffic. The truck hit head-on with the Hellickson’s 2003 Lincoln Continental.

This marks the second fatality wreck on that stretch of roadway in less than a week. Last Monday, a collision occurred killing a 39-year-old man.

“We are still investigating this wreck,” Trooper Jaime Zapata said. “It is very unfortunate that two accidents have happened that cost someone their life.”

Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace Milton Adams pronounced the death of Ruth Hellickson upon arrival at the scene. He said that stretch of road is a very bad danger zone.

“We have so many wrecks on this road,” Adams said. “We have to find a way to slow these people down, and make them aware of livestock, and wildlife that may be around here. Sometimes I come by, and cows have gotten out, and people are just still flying down the road.”

Zapata said it may be several days before they have the complete story on what all happened. No charges have been filed.

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