Fatal Accident on FM 1409

WESTLAKE, December 19, 2009 - According to traffic statistics most accidents occur within a few miles of home and around 1:20 AM Saturday morning was no exception for a Dayton man.

According to investigating DPS Trooper Chris Richmond a 1994 Chevy pickup was traveling south on FM 1409 when the driver ran off the road to the right, then overcorrected crossing the northbound lane, impacted a private drive and crashed into a large pine tree in the front yard of the home on the corner of FM 1409 at CR 427 south of Dayton.

The Westlake Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene to manage traffic control and help extract the accident victim from the wreckage of his vehicle The Dayton Volunteer Fire Department responded to assist with the Jaws of Life.

According to Trooper Richmond the driver may have fallen asleep and speed was a contributing factor in the accident. The speedometer in the pickup was locked at 80 MPH upon impact. The driver and only occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.

The driver, identified as John W. Kimball age 36 of Dayton resides on CR 4023 only a short distance south of the accident scene. He was not wearing a seat belt and the pickup was not equipped with air bags due to its’ age.

Justice of the Peace Glenn Pruitt of Dayton arrived on the scene and conducted the inquest. An autopsy was order to be conducted at the Jefferson County Medical Examiners Office in Beaumont.