04:18 PM CDT on Monday, August 3, 2009
Three dead when truck plows into traffic in Cooke County
COOKE COUNTY — At least three people were killed Monday when an 18-wheeler plowed into four other vehicles in a construction zone on Interstate 35.
A spokesman for the Cooke County Sheriff's Department said the incident was reported shortly before noon at FM 1306 south of Gainesville.
Officials said the driver of a semi-trailer — identified as 59-year-old James Crayton of Dallas — apparently failed to slow down for other vehicles in a construction zone.
Crayton's big rig first crashed into a 2003 Chevrolet sedan. The car caught fire and the two people who were inside both died. Their names were not released.
The truck then struck a blue Honda Accord with two Yalaha, Florida residents inside. The driver, Carol Whaley, 63, was taken by air ambulance to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth for treatment. He was reported in critical condition. Passenger Linda Whaley, 61, was taken to a hospital in Greenville.
The driver of a third car hit by Crayton's truck, a black Nissan sedan, was also killed in the impact. Officials withheld the victim's identity.
The runaway truck finally stopped after hitting another 18-wheeler driven by Charles Haney of Nocona. He suffered minor injuries.
All northbound lanes of I-35 remained closed at midafternoon. Traffic was backed up for 12 miles as investigators pieced together what happened and cleared the wreckage.
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