MILAM RECORDS 5^TH TRAFFIC FATALITY OF NEW YEAR

(ROCKDALE)  January ended as one of the deadliest months in Milam County history with its 5^th fatality Saturday when a 12 year old boy was killed in a motorcycle accident east of Rockdale.  Christopher Juarez of Hearne was a passenger on a motorcycle driven by 32 year old Joe Sustaita of Hearne.  The accident happened around 6:25 p.m. Saturday 4-5 miles east of Rockdale near the Sandy Creek Church.  According to investigating Trooper Craig Caden, a Chevy van driven by Surgio Ibarra of Rockdale, was traveling east on Hwy 79 and had pulled onto the right improved shoulder, then signaled to turn left into a private drive.  Sustaita, who was also traveling east behind the van, attempted to avoid the van, skidded on its side and both Sustaita and Juarez were thrown from the vehicle.  Juarez was pronounced dead at Scott & White Hospital in Temple at 7:42 p.m.  Sustaita was also transported to the hospital for treatment of undetermined injuries.  There was no contact between the motorcycle and the van, and Ibarra was not hurt.

Juarez is the 5^th traffic fatality for January and the year, and the third this week.  Two Yoe High students were killed in an auto/train accident here in Cameron Tuesday afternoon.  Pronounced dead at the scene of that wreck was Travis Mueck and Brian Reinders, both Yoe High Juniors.

And another double fatality accident earlier in the month on Hwy 79 near Gause, claimed the lives of two Brazos County man. 

Trooper Craig Caden investigated Saturday’s accident.