TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY – Gregg County Fatal

Number of Vehicles in Crash: 2               Number of Injured: 0                     Number killed:  1

Date & Time: 1/7/2022  10:32 PM

County: Gregg

Location: IH-20, approximately 1.5 miles west of Kilgore, TX.

Posted Speed Limit: 75 mph

Vehicle 1:  2004 Mazda Tribute

Vehicle 2:  2021 Kenworth towing a trailer

Driver 1: Deceased

Linda Blaney, female, 68 YOA, of Shreveport, LA.

Pronounced by: Judge Robbie Cox on scene.

Seatbelt: Unknown

Driver 2:

Jeremy Ragle, male, 40 YOA, of Emory, TX.

Seatbelt: Yes

Description:

Preliminary investigation indicates Unit 1 was in the inside lane of IH-20 eastbound disabled from what appears to be a previous single-vehicle crash.  Unit 2 and towed trailer was traveling eastbound on IH-20 in the inside lane.   Unit 2 struck Unit 1.  Unit 1 caught fire and was fully engulfed in flames.

Weather Condition: Clear

Road Conditions: Dry

Investigated By: Trooper Keifer Bounds,  DPS Jefferson