On Sunday, May 12, 2024, Lufkin Police and Fire Departments responded to a three-vehicle accident on South First Street. A Honda sedan traveling southbound in the 3100 block of South First Street around 11:15 a.m. in the outside lane crossed into the path of an 18-wheeler traveling southbound in the center lane. The Honda was struck by the 18-wheeler and came to rest in the median.
The 18-wheeler also collided with a Toyota 4-Runner traveling southbound in the inside lane before coming to a stop in the northbound inside lane. Two men traveling in the Honda succumbed to injuries from the crash - one at the scene and one later at a local hospital. The drivers of the 18-wheeler and 4-Runner did not require medical transport, but a passenger in the 4-Runner was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation.
The two deceased were identified as Joe Leediker Jr., 74, and his passenger, Gary Greening Jr., 65, both of Lufkin.
