Lufkin PD releases Names of Those Involved in Friday’s Fatal Crash

The Lufkin Police Department on Saturday released the names of those involved in a fatal crash that occurred Friday night in front of the Ellen Trout Zoo entrance.

Brennan Lucille Fisher, 20, of Ohio, died at the scene, while her driver, Emily Pharris, 19, of Lufkin, and fellow passengers, Madison Pharris, 16, and Christopher Rector, 1, all of Angelina County, were taken by ambulance to CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin with unknown injuries.

Emily Pharris was traveling east on Loop 287 in a black Toyota Corolla when she attempted to use the crossover at the intersection at Martin Luther King Drive around 7:50 p.m. An 18-wheeler that had been traveling westbound on Loop 287 was also attempting to use the crossover. A witness said Emily Pharris then passed the 18-wheeler and crossed Loop 287 into the path of a westbound Ford Ranger driven by Jackie Ray Hill, 69, of Lufkin. Hill’s truck “T-boned” the Corolla – the majority of the impact landing on the front passenger side where Fisher sat. Fisher, who had recently moved to Lufkin, was pronounced dead at the scene by Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Pat Grubbs and taken to Carroway Funeral Home in Lufkin. Hill was also taken to CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Lufkin. Emily Pharris and Madison Pharris were treated and released from the Lufkin hospital, while Hill and Rector were transferred to Memorial Hermann in Houston.

As of 3 p.m. Saturday, Hill was listed in stable condition in the shock trauma ICU, while Rector had been discharged from the emergency room earlier in the afternoon. Emily Pharris will be ticketed for no driver’s license and failure to yield at an intersection.

The accident happened as the Ellen Trout Zoo’s annual Zoo Boo was letting out, backing up traffic in the area while emergency officials worked to clear the scene.