Posted 11:26 pm Friday, October 12, 2012
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Arrest warrant out for man who fled scene of fatal crash
Staff Reports
A crash Wednesday afternoon left one woman dead and authorities searching for the driver who fled the scene.
Department of Public Sa-fety spokeswoman Jean Dark said the crash occurred about 5:20 p.m. when the 2010 Ford F-350 truck the two were riding in ran off the road and struck a tree in Smith County near the city of Overton.
The driver, identified as Justin Lee Echols, of Diana, was traveling north on County Road 217 just off Farm-to-Market Road 850 when he lost control of the vehicle in a curve and ran off the east side of the road.
Dark said 27-year-old Michele Ann Allen, of Har-leton, was dead at the scene.
“Witnesses advised investigating troopers that the driver fled the scene on a four-wheeler that was being towed behind the truck. Texas Department of Criminal Justice tracking dogs assisted in the attempt to locate the driver, but at this time Echols has not been found,” she said.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Echols, charging him with accident involving personal injury or death, a third-degree felony, according to a prepared statement from DPS. Judge Kerry Russell of the 7th District Court signed the warrants at 4 p.m. Thursday. Bond was set at $250,000.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ech-ols is asked to contact the Tyler DPS office at 903-939-6002.
A crash Wednesday afternoon left one woman dead and authorities searching for the driver who fled the scene.
Department of Public Sa-fety spokeswoman Jean Dark said the crash occurred about 5:20 p.m. when the 2010 Ford F-350 truck the two were riding in ran off the road and struck a tree in Smith County near the city of Overton.
The driver, identified as Justin Lee Echols, of Diana, was traveling north on County Road 217 just off Farm-to-Market Road 850 when he lost control of the vehicle in a curve and ran off the east side of the road.
Dark said 27-year-old Michele Ann Allen, of Har-leton, was dead at the scene.
“Witnesses advised investigating troopers that the driver fled the scene on a four-wheeler that was being towed behind the truck. Texas Department of Criminal Justice tracking dogs assisted in the attempt to locate the driver, but at this time Echols has not been found,” she said.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Echols, charging him with accident involving personal injury or death, a third-degree felony, according to a prepared statement from DPS. Judge Kerry Russell of the 7th District Court signed the warrants at 4 p.m. Thursday. Bond was set at $250,000.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ech-ols is asked to contact the Tyler DPS office at 903-939-6002.
