Deadly Crash in Porter

By Howard Roden
Updated: 04.08.10
A Shepherd woman died Thursday morning after her pickup truck slammed into the back of a slow-moving construction vehicle on a U.S. 59 frontage road.

A 1994 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Demetria Torres Cruz, 46, rear-ended a water truck traveling south on the feeder just past the entrance to the Forest Colony subdivision around 10 a.m., DPS Trooper Roger Wolsey said.

Wolsey said the larger vehicle, which was being used by Texas Sterling Construction of Houston, was irrigating the newly planted grass between the feeder and the main lanes as a finishing project for the expansion of U.S. 59 through Montgomery County.

The water truck, driven by Texas Sterling Construction employee Clarence Gibson II, was on the inside lane when the wreck occurred, the trooper said.

The speed limit of that section of frontage road between Community Road and FM 1314 in Porter is 55 mph. The speed limit on Cruz’s vehicle at the moment of impact was between 75 and 80 mph, Wolsey said.

“Family members said she (Cruz) was headed to work in Porter,” Wolsey said.

The trooper said an eyewitness traveling south on the U.S. 59 main lanes reported Cruz’s truck passed her vehicle. The eyewitness’ vehicle was traveling 65 mph, Wolsey said.

While there were no pre-impact skid marks, Cruz, who was wearing a seatbelt, must have noticed the water truck at the last instance, the trooper said.

“She attempted to evade the truck by swerving into the middle lane,” Wolsey said.

The pickup struck the back right of the water truck, triggering a 90-degree spin.

Members of Cruz’s family at the crash scene declined comment. Cruz’s body was transported by Rosewood Funeral Home to the Southeast Texas Forensic Center in Conroe for autopsy.

While no charges are pending against Gibson, Wolsey said the water truck will be tested for possessing the proper placards, and whether its hazard lights were working properly.

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