32 year old Anthony Ray Coutee, of Lufkin lost control of his 2011 Ford Crown Victoria and slammed into a utility pole in Leggett.
Debris In Road, Driver Loses Control, Slams Utility Pole, LEGGETT, May 22, 2016 - At approximately 3:25 pm on May 22, 2016, a blue 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, driven by Anthony Ray Coutee, 32, of Lufkin, was north-bound on US-59 in Leggett. According to Coutee, he swerved to avoid debris in the road and lost control of his vehicle. Coutee's vehicle left the pavement to the right and slammed sideways (passenger's side) into a utility pole in someone's front yard. The impact snapped the utility pole in half. A cable on the pole was attached to another utility pole on the opposite side of 59. When the pole came down, the cable snapped and struck a San Jacinto County Constable's car driven by Michael Lynn Aldrich, 48, of Porter. Aldrich's vehicle sustained mild body damage and a broken mirror. Coutee's vehicle came to rest in the yard. Americare Ambulance Service was dispatched the scene along with Troopers Chris Cain and Kevin Burman with the Texas Highway Patrol. Coutee was not injured, but his wife, Denise did sustain undisclosed injuries and was transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital. A transformer on the utility pole on the other side of the road was blown. One lane on the north-bound side of 59 was blocked during investigation and cleanup. A crew from Sam Houston Electric Cooperative was dispatched to replace the pole, transformer, and repair any other utility damage. No citations were issued. A rollback wrecker from Ken's Towing recovered Coutee's vehicle and it will be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston.
42 year old Denise Coutee was transported by ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital with undisclosed injuries.
Coutee's passenger's side slammed into the utility pole.
When the utility pole snapped, the cable struck this San Jacinto County Constable unit causing light damage and a broken mirror. Trooper Chris Cain speaks with San Jacinto County Constable, 48 year old Michael Lynn Aldrich, of Porter.
The broken pole ripped a wire from another utility pole across the street causing a transformer to blow.
Coutee's vehicle was recovered by Ken's Towing.
If you would like to comment on this story, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at pctletters@gmail.com. Be sure to include the story subject in the subject line of your email, also list your name and town in your letter. Your letter will be posted in Letters to the Editor.
