Dateline: August 15, 2002

No major injuries in two serious accidents  

Emergency personnel had a busy day Monday with two accidents in Clarendon. No one was seriously injured in either case.

At 7:40 a.m., a tractor-trailer rig, loaded with landscaping rocks and driven by Michael Roland Hampton of Early, Texas, was traveling south on SH 70 when it failed to stop at the intersection with US 287. The truck crossed 287 onto Orpe Street and crashed through a gate at the end of the street.

The driver reportedly turned to avoid a row of trees in front of the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroad when the vehicle overturned, trapping Hampton inside.

The Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department and EMS with the Associated Ambulance Authority freed Hampton, and he was transported to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo. Chief Deputy Randy Bond said Hampton was reported to be bruised and suffered an injured shoulder.

No citations or charges had been filed at press time. Hampton reportedly claimed his brakes had failed.

Monday evening, another accident occurred at the intersection of US 287 and Kearney.

Donley County resident David Green, age 26, was traveling west on US 287 when he was rear-ended at a high speed by a flatbed truck driven by Kerry Leon Kittrell of Haltom, Texas, according to officials with the Donley County Sheriff’s Department.

Green’s Chevrolet pickup was spun clockwise and came to rest against the Knorpp Insurance building facing east. The bed of the pickup was crushed almost to the cab.

Kittrell fled the scene, but was followed to the Western Skies Motel by volunteer fireman Robert Carmichael. DPS Trooper Chris Ward and Sheriff Butch Blackburn quickly arrived as Kittrell entered a motel room and arrested him.

Green was transported to Northwest Texas Hospital where he was treated and released.

At press time, Kittrell, age 34, was in the Donley County Jail on charges of Unsafe Speed, Driving While Intoxicated, and Failure to Stop.