A 32-year-old Gilmer man was killed when his auto was struck by another car at an intersection before hitting a tree on FM 852 near Gilmer Sunday afternoon, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

Eric Dwight Watson was pronounced dead at the scene by Upshur County Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace W.V. Ray.

The other driver, Raul Hernandez, 32, of Gilmer, was uninjured in the 12:33 p.m. crash, authorities said.

Watson’s 1998 Chevrolet Camaro and Hernandez’s 2000 Oldsmobile Alero collided at the intersection of FM 852 and Machen Lane about a mile west of Gilmer, according to information from the DPS and Ray.

Watson, westbound on FM 852, topped a knoll at the intersection of the county road, Ray said. The DPS said Hernandez, traveling on Machen Road (to Watson’s right), entered the intersection and struck the Camaro.

After the impact, Ray said, Watson’s car traveled about 75 yards, sideswiped a small tree on the roadway’s left side, and apparently turned sideways before wrapping around a large nearby sweetgum tree.

Ray said it appeared Watson was driving at a high rate of speed, but that he saw no indication alcohol was involved.

It was unknown whether the victim, whose body was extricated from the wreckage by the Gilmer Fire Department using the Jaws of Life, was wearing a seat belt.

“I’ve never seen a car torn up like that in my life,” said Ray, who has been a justice of the peace in the county for about 29 years. He told the The Mirror that the wreckage was “just a pile of junk. You couldn’t tell anything about it (the vehicle).”

Ray also said the motor was knocked out of Hernandez’s auto.

The judge said he pronounced the victim dead at 1:15 p.m. and ordered an autopsy. He said Watson lived on Bear Road.

DPS Trooper Chris Callaway investigated the crash. Watson’s body was taken to Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer.