Just after 10:30 am a 2005 Ford F-250 pickup driven by Claude Walls, 50, of Splendora was westbound on East River Road approaching US 59. Walls failed to stop for the stop sign and pulled out in front of a log truck heading north on the US 59 feeder heading to the mill. The 18-wheeler driver saw the truck failing to stop and immediately applied the brakes but was unable to stop in the short span before the impact. East Montgomery County Firefighters and MCHD responded to the scene but Walls was pronounced deceased on the scene. Montgomery County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Dunn responded to the scene and ordered Eichenhorst Funeral Directors to transport the victim to the Montgomery County Forensic Center for an autopsy. US 59 feeder remains closed at East River as crews work to unload the logs from the truck. The 18-wheeler driver was not injured. DPS assisted Splendora Police on the Crash investigation. The Montgomery County District Attorneys Office Vehicular Crimes unit also responded to the scene to assist in the investigation. No charges are being filed at this time. The crash remains under investigation. This is not the first crash at this intersection. The traffic on the northbound or southbound feeders does not stop. Signs are posted that cross traffic does not stop and there are stop signs for East River. However many do not note the caution signs. Traffic is heavy on East River especially when Splendora Schools are in session as drivers attempt to avoid the FM 2090 traffic.
