This article was originally published in The Examiner on Dec. 8, 2016.
By Eleanor Skelton
Staff Writer
A recent Little Cypress Mauriceville high school graduate died Sunday in a head-on collision in Newton County.
The accident happened around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 on Highway 87 in Newton County about one mile south of Deweyville and closed the highway in both directions for about an hour, Texas DPS Sgt. Stephanie Davis said in a news release.
The driver of a 2014 Dodge pickup truck going southbound hydroplaned in the rain, crossed the center line of the roadway and hit a 2001 Ford Escape headed northbound.
Taylor Nicole Luther, 18, of Orange was taken to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance, but she did not survive her injuries, Davis said.
The Little Cypress Mauriceville Band Boosters posted condolences on their Facebook page on Dec. 4 at 6:23 p.m.
“Taylor was a beautiful and talented young woman,” the post said. ““She was kind, smart, hard working and funny. She will truly be missed by all who knew her.”
According to her Facebook profile, Luther was a 2016 graduate of Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School.
The driver of the truck, Jared Michael Moore, 35, of Orange, was taken by ambulance to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital, but his injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, Davis said.
Texas DPS is continuing to investigate this fatal crash.
Eleanor Skelton 