Head-on Crash on FM 787

ROMAYOR, October 2, 2007 - A head-on collision on FM 787 just west of the Trinity River Bridge, claimed the life of a Kingwood man around 9:02 PM on Monday evening.

According to DPS Trooper Jamie Neault, Steven Legrande age 55 of Kingwood, TX was driving a 1989 Honda Civic east on FM 787 and lost control of his vehicle in a sweeping left hand turn in the roadway. After leaving the roadway to the right Legrande’s vehicle entered into a sideways skid, crossed the centerline and crashed into a westbound, 1994, white Chevy Pickup driven by James Sumner age 35 of Shepherd, TX.

Photos by Dalton Gregory

Sumner was transported by PHI Helicopter Air Ambulance to Houston’s Hermann Hospital in serious but stable condition.

The North Liberty County Fire Department responded and utilized extraction tools to extract both drivers from the wreckage of their vehicles. The Tarkington Volunteer Fire Department assisted with patient care and manned the landing zone for PHI.

FM 787 was closed to traffic for about 3.5 hours while this accident was investigated and cleared from the roadway. The roadway reopened around 1:30 AM on Tuesday morning.

Justice of the Peace, Burl Thomas conducted an inquest pronouncing Steven Legrande dead at the scene and ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

According to Trooper Neault, the major contributing factor in the cause of this accident was unsafe speed.

The accident was investigated by DPS Trooper Kevin Hussey assisted by Troopers Jamie Neault and Boyd Lamb.

Citations in the accident are expected pending further investigation by the Department of Public Safety.

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