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Three injured in semi crash

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A pickup truck was severely damaged in a crash involving a semi. Courtesy photoA pickup truck was severely damaged in a crash involving a semi. Courtesy photo

TCNS staff

TRINITY COUNTY —Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers investigated a crash involving a commercial motor vehicle on U.S. Highway 287, at the intersection of state Highway 94, on Monday.  

The report indicates that at approximately 8:45 a.m., a 2022 Kenworth tractor-trailer was traveling east, while a 2022 Dodge pickup was traveling north. It is reported that the pickup failed to yield to the truck tractor at the stop sign governing the intersection when the truck tractor struck the pickup on its left side.  

The driver of the truck tractor, identified as 47-year-old William Lejeune of Columbus, Miss., was not injured.  

The driver, identified as 20-year-old Blake Gresham of Houston, and two passengers were transported to CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial for treatment. 

This is an ongoing investigation.

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Officials says slow down, move over a critical law

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SlowDown

Special to the News-Standard

AUSTIN — Motorists headed out for one last summer holiday should remember that state law requires them to slow down or move over when tow trucks and other emergency vehicles — police, fire, EMS and highway response trucks — are stopped on the side of the road with their lights activated.

If a road has more than one lane traveling in the same direction, drivers must move out of the lane closest to the emergency vehicles stopped on the road OR slow down at least 20 miles per hour below the speed limit.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation regulates the towing industry as well as the Driver Education and Safety program.

Safety tips for driving this Labor Day weekend (or any day, really):

•Slow down and pay attention to what you’re doing. If you get tired, pull over in a safe spot and walk around to re-energize.

•Don’t drink and drive, even a little bit.

•Designate a (sober) driver.

•Stay off the mobile phone — this includes texting. Designate a “co-pilot” to oversee the phone while you’re driving so you can concentrate on the task at hand.

•Stay weather-aware. Turn around and don’t drown if water is running across the road. Only two feet of rushing water can sweep away a vehicle.

•Leave plenty of time to get to your destination. Roadways are likely to be crowded. 

Drive friendly — the Texas way!

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Wildfire leads to arson arrest

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082522 fire arrestA fire that hopped property lines and destroyed this outbuilding resulted in the arrest of a resident of The Woodlands on a charge of arson. Courtesy photo

By Tony Farkas
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TRINITY — A resident of The Woodlands faces felony arson charges for a fire that damaged structures on Brown Lane near Westwood Shores on Aug. 16.

Jerome Bernard Toenjes, 67, is facing a charge of arson of a building recklessly damaging a building belonging to another.

Sheriff Woody Wallace said the suspect was burning logs and limbs on his property, and the fire jumped property lines burning a neighbor’s buildings.

According to reports, Deputy J. Scott Moore was dispatched to Brown Lane in the Westwood Shores neighborhood where Trinity and 356 fire departments were battling a large brush fire.

Moore said in the report that several acres were on fire with multiple fire units working. One structure, owned by Leroy Brown, was completely burned.

The structure was a wood-framed shop/storage building detached from the main residence; however, Moore was shown a burn pile of several large logs and fence posts on the nearby property at 126 Brown Lane.

Moore said it appeared to have been burning for an extended period of time.

According to fire department personnel on the scene, it appeared that the burn pile had gotten out of control, igniting dry vegetation nearby. This caused the fire to rapidly spread, cross property lines onto Mr. Brown’s property, damaging the building.

Moore said he located Toenjes, who said that he had been burning the pile “a couple of weeks ago” but denied lighting the fire on Aug. 16. Since the burn ban has been in place for several weeks, Toenjes was arrested.

“The man has been arrested and is now facing felony charges for ignoring the burn ban and recklessly causing destruction,” Wallace said.

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Fires heat up hot weekend

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071422 trinity firesWinds whipped a grass fire on FM 3188 on Thursday. Courtesy photo

By Tony Farkas
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TRINITY — Trinity firefighters responded to eight fire calls over the weekend, including four calls on Friday in 100-degree-plus weather, and the department asks all county residents to please not burn under any circumstances.

A burn ban exists in the county, and dry conditions make any fire hazardous.

Assistant Fire Chief Keith Johnson said that at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, a transformer exploded on FM 356 at White Rock Acres.

Firefighters found two high-power transmission lines from Entergy broken and draped over lines belonging to Sam Houston Electric Co-op; the event started a four-acre fire in the nearby woods.

Trinity Volunteer Fire Department responded with five trucks and 19 firefighters and called for mutual aid from 356 VFD, which responded with four trucks and 10 firefighters. Texas Forest Service responded with a bulldozer to establish a fire line.

Johnson said the fire was contained in approximately an hour and units stayed on scene until 3 a.m. putting out hot spots. Entergy and SHECO responded with line crews to shut off power and make repairs.

No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged.

Johnson said that another fire broke out at around 2 p.m. Saturday behind Heath and Human Services building on Highway 19 South.

This fire damaged the back wall of a barn and endangered the DHS office and a vacant home next door. The VFD responded with five trucks and 14 firefighters and quickly extinguished the fire before it could extend into other structures.

On Thursday at about 4:15 p.m., approximately 75 acres on FM 3188 erupted in multiple grass fires on Hwy 94 and FM 3188.

Johnson said two brush trucks, two tankers and one engine along with 18 firefighters responded.

A southwest wind pushed several grass fires into wooded areas on the Glendale Hunting Club, and help from Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, 356 VFD and Groveton VFD arrived, and assisted with brush trucks, tankers and firefighters.

Texas Forest Service also responded with three bulldozers and manpower as well as a spotter plane.
The fire was 95 percent contained around 10:40 p.m.

Johnson said no structures were damaged and no injuries were reported.

On Monday at about 12:53 p.m., Trinity firefighters were dispatched to a grass fire at Trinity Plantation. Three trucks and 15 firefighters responded and extinguished the fire in less than 10 minutes.

Johnson said the fire possibly was caused by a tractor cutting grass.  

071422 trinity fires twoThe fire on FM 356 reignited Sunday after a dead tree limb that had been smoldering dropped and fell across the fire line. A grass fire started Monday near Trinity Plantation. Bulldozers from the Texas Forest Service create a fire line.

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House destroyed from fire

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070722 house fireFirefighters work to extinguish a blaze at 249 Creekside Drive. Courtesy photo

TCNS staff

TRINITY — A man’s home and two storage sheds were destroyed as the result of a fire that broke out in the evening of June 29.

Assistant Fire Chief Keith Johnson said the blaze erupted at about 10:20 p.m. at 249 Creekside Drive off FM 1617, the home of James Cox.

When firefighters arrived, the house and storage sheds were engulfed with flames, so the department set up drafting operations and began tanker shuttle for water supply. The 356 Fire Department was called for mutual aid and they responded with tanker, engine, and brush truck.

Trinity VFD had six engines and 18 firefighters on the scene for approximately 3 1/2 hours, and 356 VFD responded with 10 firefighters.
Johnson said the house and contents were a total loss. While the cause is believed to be electrical, Johnson said there is no way to determine it as the area was destroyed.

The Red Cross is providing assistance to the family. 

During this fire a small brush fire started downwind of the house fire and was quickly extinguished by local residents. 

TVFD Brush 1 also responded to a small rekindle fire at the Pineland Forest fire in Glendale during this time.

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