Vacation turns disastrous

A vacation for two out-of-towners went from shopping to dealing with a wrecked pickup after an accident Tuesday in northwest Odessa.

“We were just heading back from Woods Boots a little after seven (p.m.) and got into this wreck,” Missy Tarpley, Strong City, Kansas, resident, said while wiping a tear from her eye. “We’re just on vacation.”

DPS Trooper Buck Welch said the silver 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 was traveling north on Loop 338 when it collided with the driver’s side of a white Toyota Avalon, which failed to yield the right of way.

Welch said the 49-year-old driver of the Toyota was dead on impact but Tarpley said she didn’t need the trooper to tell her.

“I went to the Toyota to see if he was OK and I knew right away he was not good,” the passenger of the Dodge said before putting her face into her hands. “He just got out in front of us. It’s just sad because he’s not here anymore.”

Welch said the driver’s name would be released at a later date and no citations were given at the scene of the wreck.

Troopers were also on the scene of a rollover that occurred at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday that sent one to the hospital.

Trooper Pryor Templeton said a white 1996 Ford Explorer was driving north on Highway 385 when a trailer full of wooden fence pallets shifted weight and made the sport utility vehicle roll.

The driver and the backseat passenger were not transported but a 41-year-old front passenger was transported to Medical Center Hospital via CareStar.

Templeton said the passenger was in stable condition.