1 Fatality Reported as 18-Wheeler Smashes Into Autozone in Lufkin – UPDATED

UPDATE:

The truck driver is identified as Brian Golliday, 62, of St. Louis, Missouri. Golliday’s family told officers that he had a history of heart problems. An autopsy has been ordered. Cleanup is still ongoing so use caution in the area and expect delays.

ORIGINAL STORY

The clean up continues this morning as Lufkin Police are on the scene of a one-vehicle accident that claimed the life of an out-of-state truck driver.

According to Jessica Pebsworth, Communications Director with the City of Lufkin, the incident occurred around 4:25 this morning when an 18-wheeler travelling southbound on Timberland Drive left the roadway for an unknown reason at the Tulane Drive intersection and traveled several hundred yards before plowing into the AutoZone building and exiting through the other side of the business.  The truck came to rest in a Kiwanis Park tree line behind a neighboring office building.

When officers and firefighters arrived on the scene, they found that the driver was deceased. Firefighters worked for 30 minutes to extricate him from the cab. The truck tore down power lines after leaving the road. Initially, approximately 900 homes were without power but that number was down to 26 as of 6 a.m. Oncor is on the scene and continuing to work to repair power lines and restore power to the rest of the residents and customers.

Two vehicles in the AutoZone parking lot were also damaged in the accident. The truck driver was from out of state. He was hauling bananas.

The northbound lanes of Timberland Drive from South First Street to Tulane Drive continue to be blocked as of 7am this morning. Traffic is moving in the area with motorists sharing the southbound lanes. Expect delays, use caution and avoid the area if at all possible as the cleanup continues.

The accident remains under investigation.