At 3:01pm Cut and Shoot Fire Department responded to a major accident on SH 105 East near California Avenue. When they arrived on location they found two separate accidents. The first on was minor and had no injuries. The second right behind was much worse. North Montgomery County Fire Department was dispatched to assist with the landing of Life Flight which was responding from Jersey Village in northwest Harris County. In the meantime firefighters worked to free the male and female victims of the Ford Ranger. Jose Salvador, 37, was the driver of the International Sweeper truck owner by Crosby Trucking of Plantersville, Texas was uninjured.
The female driver who is identified as Christine Sullivan age 33 of Rye, Texas was flown to Hermann Hospital at the Texas Medical Center in critical condition. Her passenger Jimmy Gipson, age 39 also of Rye, Texas was pronounced dead at the scene by Judge James Metts, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4. Metcalf Funeral Home removed the victim from the scene. No autopsy was ordered.
According to Trooper Hinojosa with the Texas Department of Public Safety the first accident resulted in one vehicle failing to yield the right of way. The second accident was caused when the westbound sweeper stopped and the Ranger did not and ran up under the sweeper. No charges are being filed at this time.
Witnesses at the scene said at the time of the accident the rain was coming down so hard that it was next to zero visibility.
NOTE: You may notice the sweeper had no license plate, inspection sticker or front bumper. In the State of Texas this is legal since 2003.
502.0073. POWER SWEEPERS. (a) An owner of a power sweeper is not required to register the power sweeper. (b) In this section, “power sweeper” means an implement, with or without motive power, designed for the removal by broom, vacuum, or regenerative air system of debris, dirt, gravel, litter, or sand from asphaltic concrete or cement concrete surfaces, including surfaces of parking lots, roads, streets, highways, and warehouse floors. The term includes a vehicle on which the implement is permanently mounted if the vehicle is used only as a power sweeper. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1320, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
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