Mail carrier hurt in wreck

By Loyd Cook

July 23, 2008 09:40 am

— A collision between a U.S. Postal Service van and a work truck pulling a trailer left a mail carrier with severe injuries and saw the driver of the work truck flee the scene on foot Tuesday afternoon.
Jamie Berlin saw the accident at the intersection of East First Avenue and Business 45, right at The General Store. She said she was two cars behind the mail van, which was eastbound on First Avenue and first in line at the traffic light when it turned green.
“(The work truck) came flying through the red light and smacked into the mail truck, right on the driver’s side,” Berlin said. “It’s sad. He had a wedding ring on ... he’s got family. That other guy never slowed down ... never missed a beat.”
The mail carrier has been identified as Donnie Evett, who one co-worker arriving at the accident scene said is married with children, one of whom is disabled.
Corsicana Fire and Rescue ambulance personnel treated Evett at the scene. He was later transported to a Dallas hospital. He was reported to be in critical condition at press time.
Patrol officer Randall Dobson, the lead police officer at the scene, said the mail carrier’s injuries appeared to be severe.
The USPS van was struck by a Ford F-350 truck pulling a long, flatbed trailer carrying lumber. There were no visible skid marks in the intersection.
There was a three-man crew in the truck. Two men remained at the scene.
The driver — described as an Hispanic male known only as “Daniel” — reportedly called the owner of the truck and trailer, told him that there had been an accident and “he had to go,” according to a conversation with police heard at the scene.
The driver then left the scene on foot. The owner of the vehicle told police where the driver lives, but police were apparently unable to locate him there.
He remained at large at press time.
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Loyd Cook may be reached via e-mail at lcook@corsicanadailysun.com