Local News
Wrongful death case involves fatal wreck
Testimony in a suit against a drilling company filed by the family of a Cleburne woman began on Tuesday in the 413th District Court in Cleburne.
Rhonda Kay Henson, 41, died in a Sept. 11, 2008, accident near Venus after a large piece of oil field equipment fell off a passing tractor-trailer, crushing the driver’s side of her Ford Explorer, said Fort Worth attorney John David Hart.
Henson’s family filed suit against the tractor-trailer’s driver, Daniel R. Armstrong, 21, of Springtown, and the company, Pioneer Drilling Company, a San Antonio company with a Springtown branch.
In their suit, the family asserts negligence on the defendants’ part and assert a wrongful death claim in Henson’s death.
The accident occurred at 3:57 p.m., according to a Texas Department of Transportation report. Henson was driving southbound on Farm-to-Market Road 157 with her husband, Thomas Henson, in the passenger seat.
Armstrong was traveling northbound on FM 157.
As Henson approached a curve in the road, Armstrong entered her lane, according to the family’s court filing.
As Armstrong’s truck turned, a large piece of equipment fell off onto Henson’s truck.
During opening arguments, Hart told jurors the case would prove that the equipment, weighing more than 15 tons, was secured with two chains, not four as required by state and federal law.
This caused the equipment to become unsecured and slide around until it ultimately flew off the truck into Henson’s Explorer, Hart said.
Jurors heard a 911 call from a woman who witnessed, but was not involved in the accident.
In the call the woman said something flew off the tractor-trailer, hitting the Explorer.
The caller tells the 911 operator that she yelled to see if anyone else was in the Explorer at which point Thomas Henson, who was out of the truck, told her his wife was dead in the vehicle.
Hart further alleged that Armstrong had several tickets, a suspended license and was not qualified to be driving the tractor-trailer.
At least one company employee was aware of those facts when he let Armstrong take the truck, Hart said.
Other company employees forged, backdated and fabricated Armstrong’s records and driver qualification file after the accident, Hart said, which came to light after company employees came forward.
Company officials failed to heed earlier concerns about safety before the Sept. 11 accident, Hart said.
“That was the respect they showed Rhonda Henson’s family,” Hart said. “They said, ‘We’re not going to be held responsible. We’re going to make up what we need to.’ And they did. Because they didn’t care at all. All they cared about was to keep making money and keep making bonuses. This was a company not taking care of business and absolutely disregarding safety.”
- Local News
-
-
Ceremony to break ground on 121 set
The first ground-breaking ceremony of the Texas 121-Chisholm Trail Project is scheduled for next week, Johnson County officials announced Monday.
-
Hewlett files for mayor
Justin Hewlett, owner of Hewlett Office Systems, filed for the mayor’s seat in the May Cleburne City Council elections on Monday. Single Member District 4 Councilman John Warren filed to seek re-election to his seat on Monday as well.
-
Educating through the arts
Her résumé is impressive. An educator, therapist, dancer, minister and actor, Bonnie Hawkins-Jordan seems the kind of person who might live in Hollywood. But she doesn’t. She lives in Cleburne, sharing her ministry with those around her any way she can.
-
Challenger seeks to oust Precinct 4 incumbent
Johnson County Precinct 4 voters have a choice this year between re-electing incumbent Commissioner Don Beeson, or electing his challenger, Bart Basham.
-
Park and ride lot to be discussed
Cleburne City Council members will vote Tuesday on P.E.T. Construction’s $171,704 bid to construct a park-and-ride lot at the Cletran location.
-
Pete Kendall: Home phonelessness more blessing than curse
In a 1916 interview in the Chicago Tribune, the self-anointed World’s Greatest Newspaper, Henry Ford said, “History is more or less bunk. It’s tradition. We don’t want tradition. We want to live in the present, and the only history that is worth a tinker’s damn is the history we made today.”
-
Medina brings campaign to Cleburne
Several hundred area residents attended a Saturday Burleson Tea Party rally held at Forrest Auto Group in Cleburne.
-
2/8 Felony arrests
The following felony arrests are taken from public records at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. All individuals should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
-
Fire destroys home, occupants OK
A Wednesday morning fire resulted in no injuries, but destroyed a home near Burleson.
-
Showers put lake level above spillway
With showers continuing through this morning, Lake Pat Cleburne lake level was reported at 734.1 feet, about six inches over the spillway, said local weather watcher Gayle White.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Ceremony to break ground on 121 set
