Archives > Plano Star-courier > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
DPS charge mulch truck driver with DWI
By Stephanie Flemmons, Staff Writer
Officials with the Department of Public Safety charged a semi-truck driver with driving while intoxicated after he was reportedly driving erratically and overturned his rig last month.
About 2:45 p.m. March 17, Taj Black, 33, was driving a semi-tractor trailer loaded with mulch southbound on U.S. 75 when a concerned motorist called 9-1-1 to report the commercial vehicle’s “dangerous driving.”
“I’m afraid to get too close to him,” the anonymous caller told 9-1-1 dispatch. “He is having trouble staying in his own lane. He could be intoxicated or having trouble controlling the load.”
“He is definitely speeding,” the caller said. “There is no doubt about that.”
The caller informed the dispatcher the semi-truck was about to exit westbound on the George Bush Turnpike. Moments later the driver surprisingly exclaimed that the driver of the semi-truck lost control on the onramp.
“Whoa, he’s lost it, he’s lost it,” the caller said. “He overturned on the westbound ramp.”
The caller said the driver of the vehicle immediately got out of the vehicle and was walking around but looked shaken.
The accident caused an abundance of landscaping mulch to be dumped onto the overpass and the grassy area below.
Plano paramedics arrived at the scene within minutes. Black was transported to the Medical Center of Plano, but released that day.
Lonny Haschell, DPS spokesman, said since Black holds a Commercial Driver’s License in Texas he will face more restrictions than that of a regular license holder, if convicted of the DWI charge.
Haschell said DPS is still waiting for the blood alcohol test result to determine Black’s alcohol level.
According to the Texas Penal Code a person is disqualified from driving a commercial vehicle for one year on a first DWI conviction and for life on a second conviction.
Contact Stephanie Flemmons at sflemmons@acnpapers.com
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
