BY WILLIE OPENSHAW
According to witnesses, at approximately 10:15 pm on April 19, 2018, a vehicle was east-bound in the west-bound lanes of 190 West. At that moment, a white 2004 Ford Crown Victoria, driven by Taylor Dawn Walters, 17, of Cold Spring, was west-bound and came upon the vehicle that was traveling the wrong direction. Walters slowed down to avoid a head on collision and was slammed from behind by a silver 2009 Toyota Camry, driven by Kaiser Luke Erne, 17, of Shepherd. Taylor’s vehicle came to rest in the left lane of the west-bound side, while Erne’s vehicle pulled to the right shoulder (next to Best Air). A white Chevy Cavalier occupied by Angel Manuel Saez, 46, of Onalaska, and his girlfriend decided to pull to the right shoulder and help. Saez exited his vehicle and stepped onto the pavement and was struck by a red 2005 Saturn Vue, driven by Lorenzo Alandrus Johnson, 52, of Onalaska. Saez was killed on impact. Johnson pulled to the right shoulder. The driver that was going to wrong way turned the other direction and drove away and remains at large. Americare and Allegiance Ambulance Services were dispatched to the scene along with the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department, Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and Troopers Colton McQuilkin, Darwon Evans, John Allen, and Sergeant Sam Lattner with the Texas Highway Patrol. Justice of the Peace, Robert “Dooley” Johnson performed an inquest at the scene. Kaiser Erne was cited for failure to control speed for striking Walters’ vehicle. Johnson was visibly distraught from the incident. There were no other injuries. All traffic on the west-bound side of 190 was blocked during investigation and cleanup. A first-call car from Cochran Funeral Home transported Saez from the scene. A rollback wrecker from Ken’s Towing recovered Taylor’s and Erne’s vehicles and they’ll be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston.
17 year old Taylor Walters, of Cold Spring, was driving this 2004 Ford Crown Victoria and was slammed from behind when she slowed down to avoid a vehicle that was traveling the wrong way.
17 year old Kaiser Erne, of Shepherd was driving this 2009 Toyota Camry when he struck Taylor’s vehicle from behind (Erne was cited for failure to control speed).
46 year old Angel Manuel Saez, of Onalaska and his girlfriend pulled over to help. When Saez exited his vehicle (pictured) and stepped onto the pavement, he was struck and killed.
Saez was struck by this 2005 Saturn Vue, driven by 52 year old Lorenzo Alandrus Johnson, of Onalaska.
Justice of the Peace, Robert “Dooley” Johnson performed an inquest at the scene. Johnson is speaking with Sergeant Sam Lattner with the Texas Highway Patrol.