KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |Man crashes vehicle into funeral procession

Man crashes vehicle into funeral procession

Posted by Kelly Hefelfinger - email
By LaKecia Shockley - bio | email

HENDERSON, TX (KLTV) - A man crashed into a vehicle during a funeral procession in Henderson Friday morning, and police say alcohol may be to blame.

Juan Hernandez, 55, of Henderson is charged with DWI and intoxication assault. Police arrested Hernandez on Friday shortly after 11:00 a.m.

In Rusk County court Monday, Hernandez seemed unaware of what he was accused of.

Henderson police say Hernandez plowed through a funeral procession.

"Even though vehicles were going slow, this vehicle for whatever reason didn't stop," said Lieutenant Craig Sweeney, of the Henderson Police Department. "The officers had stopped in the intersection like that were supposed to. The officers were trying to direct traffic and let people know to stop."

Police say Hernandez ignored the funeral escort police officer, and drove his truck into the side of another truck, driven by Pastor Jerry Williams, an honorary pallbearer at the funeral.

"Mr. Williams was the only one in his vehicle at the time, which in this case was a very good thing," said Sweeney.

Police say had there been a passenger in Williams' truck it might have been a different story.

"...[there] might be another funeral," said Sweeney. "It was that severe."

Williams is now recovering from non-life-threatening injuries, and Hernandez now faces serious jail time. Court documents reveal that a standardized field sobriety test showed Hernandez was intoxicated at the time of the accident.

©2009 KLTV. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.