Laina Wanttie Killed, Two Injured in Smith County, TX Ambulance Crash on Toll 49
UPDATE (September 1, 2022): Authorities have identified the woman who died in this accident as 51-year-old Laina Wanttie.
Smith County, TX — August 30, 2022, a woman died and two ambulance medics were injured in a crash on Toll 49 near Lindale in Smith County.
According to reports the incident happened Tuesday afternoon on Toll 49 near Farm to Market Road 16. Preliminary investigation suggests an ambulance was northbound on the highway responding to a call about a stranded vehicle.
As the ambulance headed north, a southbound Chevrolet Malibu reportedly lost control on the wet road surface and veered into the opposite lane where it crashed into a northbound ambulance.
The Chevy driver was pronounced dead at the scene. A second ambulance transported the injured medics to an area hospital in fair condition.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Laina Wanttie Accident in Smith County
Before assuming that "speeding on wet roads" is all there is to say about this tragic accident, it's important to consider whether all the potential factors have really been accounted for. Knowing all the contributing factors of a crash is crucial, which means it's important to consider all the possibilities--if only to rule them out.
Unfortunately law enforcement sometimes find an explanation they like and stick to it without much further investigation. They may be right, but I'm sure the victim's family would want to know every potential factor was considered--to bring them the whole truth, but also to ensure their loved one wasn't unfairly blamed for a wreck beyond her control. It sometimes takes efforts above and beyond police attention to uncover the whole truth.
