Dateline: August 2, 2007

Wreck sends local couple to hospital

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

A simple act of mercy had tragic consequences Monday afternoon when the resulting three-vehicle accident sent a Clarendon couple to the emergency room.

Department of Public Safety Trooper Chad Simpson said Pat Knowles, 67, of Clarendon was driving eastbound on US 287 near Martin when she stopped her 2003 Chevy TrailBlazer in the inside lane to rescue a stray dog in the roadway. Her husband, 74-year-old Brian Knowles, remained in the passenger seat.

Lowell Friedman, age 52, of Plano, driving a 2000 Winnebago RV and towing an SUV, approached Knowles and her vehicle in the outside lane. He applied his brakes and steered to the right to avoid Knowles and the TrailBlazer.

At the same time, a 2006 Frieghtliner semi-truck was approaching the RV in the outside lane; and the driver, 53-year-old Cheryl Richman of Mesilla Park, New Mexico, changed lanes to the inside lane to avoid the braking RV.

Richman then saw the TrailBlazer, applied her brakes, and steered to the left but could not avoid colliding with the Knowles’ vehicle. The TrailBlazer slid around and struck the SUV being towed by Friedman and came to rest in the inside lane.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Knowles were transported to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo for treatment.

A co-worker of Mr. Knowles, Carol Hall at the Donley County State Bank, said Tuesday that the couple were both still hospitalized. Mr. Knowles was in a neck brace and waiting on further tests on an ankle injury, and Mrs. Knowles was being treated for a mild heart attack, Hall said.

Simpson said no one in the other vehicles was injured. He also said the accident is still under investigation.

Agencies assisting at the scene were the Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, Associated Ambulance Authority, the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, DPS, and the Texas Department of Transportation.

A separate accident Monday morning also sent an Austin man to Northwest Texas Hospital.

Simpson said 18-year-old Derek Frutiger apparently fell asleep when he was westbound on US 287 about 2.7 miles east of Hedley.

Frutiger’s 1999 Mazda pickup traveled into the north ditch and struck a delineator post. Frutiger woke up and overcorrected to the left. He slid sideways across the westbound lanes and into the center median. The pickup rolled one time and came to rest in the inside eastbound lane.

Agencies on the scene at that accident included the DPS, the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department, Donley County Sheriff’s Office, Donley County Constable, TxDOT, and the Associated Ambulance Authority.