Posted 11:27 pm Tuesday, October 16, 2012
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Man charged in fatal accident turns self in
Staff Reports
A 30-year-old Diana man accused of fleeing the scene of a fatal accident, in which authorities say he was driving, was awaiting transport to Smith County Monday evening after he was booked into the Upshur County Jail, a jailer confirmed.
Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd confirmed Monday evening that the man turned himself into authorities. According to online jail records, he was confined at 3:52 p.m. Monday.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Justin Lee Echols, of Diana, last week, charging him with accident involving personal injury or death, a third-degree felony, according to a previous statement from the Department of Public Safety. Judge Kerry Russell of the 7th District Court in Smith County signed the warrants. Bond was set at $250,000.
DPS spokeswoman Jean Dark said earlier that the crash occurred about 5:20 p.m. Wednesday when the 2010 Ford F-350 truck Echols was driving ran off the road and struck a tree in Smith County near the city of Overton.
Echols was traveling north on County Road 217 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, according to the DPS statement.
Trooper Dark said 27-year-old Michele Ann Allen, of Harleton, a passenger in Echols' vehicle, 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,” Trooper Dark said
Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd confirmed Monday evening that the man turned himself into authorities. According to online jail records, he was confined at 3:52 p.m. Monday.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Justin Lee Echols, of Diana, last week, charging him with accident involving personal injury or death, a third-degree felony, according to a previous statement from the Department of Public Safety. Judge Kerry Russell of the 7th District Court in Smith County signed the warrants. Bond was set at $250,000.
DPS spokeswoman Jean Dark said earlier that the crash occurred about 5:20 p.m. Wednesday when the 2010 Ford F-350 truck Echols was driving ran off the road and struck a tree in Smith County near the city of Overton.
Echols was traveling north on County Road 217 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, according to the DPS statement.
Trooper Dark said 27-year-old Michele Ann Allen, of Harleton, a passenger in Echols' vehicle, 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,” Trooper Dark said
