Shortly after 3:00 p.m. Porter Fire Department responded to a reported major accident on FM 1314 at Ferne Drive. When they arrived they found two vehicles with moderate damage. MCHD responded also. The driver of the pickup was uninjured. The driver of the car, a sixteen year old male and his sister escaped serious injuries and when their mother arrived on the scene advised she would have then checked by their doctor. They had no apparent injuries. According to Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Eli Rivera the sixteen year old left the stop sign on Ferne drive and pulled into traffic on FM 1314. The truck heading northbound was unable to stop and t-boned the vehicle in the left rear door. Had it been just inches forward they may have suffered serious injuries.
FM 1314 northbound traffic was diverted to the shoulder as the accident cleared.
On thing was noted on this scene and several others i that people still seem they have to get somewhere in a hurry. One woman totally unaware of what was going on drove up almost onto the scene before she realized the lane was closed. Yes, the cell phone was plugged into her ear as she did it.
SB 193 requires drivers nearing a stopped emergency vehicle that has lights activated, unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, to: Vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, if the highway has two or more lanes traveling the direction of the emergency vehicle; or
Slow to a speed not more than 20 miles per hour (mph) less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 mph or more; or Slow to a speed not more than five mph when the posted speed limit is less than 25 mph. A violation is a punishable by a maximum fine of $200. If the violation results in property damage, the maximum fine increases to $500. If the violation results in bodily injury, the offense is enhanced to a Class B misdemeanor.
