(MILANO)  One person was killed in a grinding head-on collision between a truck tractor and a Dodge pickup.  The accident happened just after 3 p.m. Friday 3 miles south of Milano on Highway 36.  Pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Twila Harris was 31 year old Cody Wade Batten of Bryan.  Batten was in a 1997 Dodge Pickup that struck a 2000 Volvo truck tractor head on.  The Truck was driven by 65 year old Clinton Thomas Briggs of Texarkana.  He suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene.

According to DPS, Batten was northbound on 36 and Briggs was southbound when Batten crossed the center stripe and the southbound lane, onto the southbound shoulder.  Briggs took evasive action into the northbound lane, however Batten tried to correct back into the north lane.  The collision occurred near the center stripe.  The truck tractor overturned following the collision, spilling its load of onions.   Stat-Air was called, but circled and then left when it was learned that the surviving driver did not need emergency treatment.  Two Scott & White EMS units responded along with Milano and Rockdale Fire Departments, Milam County Sheriff’s Deputies, and investigating Trooper Ernest Del Bosque.

Friday’s fatality was the second this week, and the third for the year here in Milam County.  A Spring, Texas woman was killed in a weather related accident on Little River Bridge Tuesday afternoon.  (see story)  And a Waco man was killed in January after ramming the rear of a trailer on Hwy 36 near Griffin Chapel.  (see story)