Volunteer Firemen converge on Clifford Vowell's truck.
Onalaska Man Life-Flighted from Major Accident, GOODRICH, May 26, 2009 - At approximately 6:15 pm on May 26, 2009, a burgundy 1994 Ford F-250 driven by Clifford Vowell, 79, of Onalaska, was north-bound on 59 in Goodrich when a silver 1996 Honda Accord driven by James Matthew Leonard, 19, of Goodrich pulled in front of Vowell from a crossover point from the south-bound side of 59. The front left side of Vowell's truck slammed the front end of Leonard's vehicle. Vowell's truck continued northward towards the right side of the road and rolled over into the weeds coming to rest upright next to a telephone pole. DPS Troopers Brent Henry and David Flowers were dispatched to the scene along the Goodrich, Livingston, and Onalaska Fire Departments, Americare Ambulance Service, and Goodrich Emergency Management Coordinator, Ken Hambrick. Vowell was trapped in his truck with serious injuries. The Livingston Volunteer Fire Department Heavy Rescue Unit used the jaws-of-life to cut Vowell's driver's side door off to gain access and extract him from his vehicle. Leonard was not injured. Life Flight was summoned and a PHI Helicopter landed in the middle of US-59 north near the scene of the accident. Vowell was loaded onto the helicopter and transported to Hermann Hospital in Houston. All traffic on the north-bound side of 59 was blocked during life-flight operations. Both parties had insurance. Leonard was issued a citation for failure to yield right-of-way at an intersection. Vowell's vehicle was towed by a rollback wrecker from LakeView Wrecker Service and it will be stored at LakeView in Livingston while Leonard's vehicle was recovered by a rollback wrecker from Ken's towing and it will be stored at Harrison Body Shop in Livingston. The scene was cleared and traffic fully flowing by 8 pm.
Volunteer Firemen utilize the jaws-of-life to gain access to Clifford Powell.
Firemen and EMS personnel remove Powell from his vehicle.
Ken Hambrick converses with Livingston Assistant Fire Chief, John Haynes.
Powell being transported to a PHI helicopter.
Powell lifts off for Hermann Hospital in Houston.
Interior of Powell's vehicle.
DPS Trooper David Flowers investigates.
Leonard's vehicle being recovered by Ken's Towing.
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