18 WHEELER BROADSIDES PICKUP, ONALASKA TEXAS, 06/18/21...

Pickup Broadsided by 18 Wheeler, ONALASKA, June 18, 2021 - At approximately 7:15 am on June 18, 2021, an 18 wheeler, driven by Jake Kropik, 35, of Huntsville, was east-bound on US-190 West. As Kropik was passing the subdivision of Cedar Point, a west-bound black 2006 Ford F-250, driven by Robert David Johnson, 86, of Livingston, attempted a left turn into the entrance of Cedar Point. Johnson failed to yield to Kropik. The 18 wheeler broadsided the rear bed portion of Johnson's pickup knocking it into the grass, as Kropik's vehicle left the pavement to the right, and continued through the grass, crashed through a white wooden fence, struck a tree and finally came to rest upright near a pond. Officer Lee Parrish with the Onalaksa Police Department drove upon the scene and radioed to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Allegiance Ambulance Service was dispatched to the scene along with the Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department Heavy Rescue Unit, and Trooper Chris Cain with the Texas Highway Patrol. Johnson was trapped in his turned over pickup. Firemen used the Jaws-of-Life to cut the roof off of the pickup and carefully remove Johnson from his vehicle. An Air Life air medical helicopter landed on 190 and flew Johnson to Hermann Hospital in Houston. Kropik was physically okay. All traffic on 190 was blocked during investigation, cleanup, and flight operations. Johnson's vehicle was recovered by George White & Sons Wrecker Service and will be stored in Onalaska. Kropik's vehicle was recovered by a heavy duty wrecker service out of Huntsville. This accident remains under investigation by the Texas Highway Patrol.