Kemp Man Dies In Two-Vehicle Crash

A 20-year-old Kemp man was killed Friday afternoon on State Highway 198, less than a mile north of Farm-to-Market 1651, in a two vehicle crash.

Eugene Louis Concklin, 58, and his passenger Joyce Palm Concklin, 51, both of Brooksville, Florida, were northbound on SH 198 in a 2009 GMC 3500 pickup truck.

Preston Michael Cotton-Clark was southbound in a 2004 Ford Explorer SUV.

"(Cotton-Clark) drifted left and drove into the northbound traffic lane, then swerved right in an attempt to get back in the southbound traffic lane," Department of Public Safety Trooper Brady Lunceford said. "(He) attempted to get back in the southbound traffic lane, slid clockwise and was struck in the driver side door by the front of unit 1 (driven by Mr. Concklin)."

Mr. Concklin attempted to swerve left to avoid the crash but was unable to, Lunceford said.

The impact occurred about 1.5 feet south of the center traffic lane divider, in the northbound traffic lane.

"(Concklin) rotated counter clockwise and came to rest across both traffic lanes," Lunceford said in describing the scene. "(Cotton-Clark’s vehicle) was knocked into the ditch on the north side of State Highway 198 and came to rest facing southeast."

According to Lunceford’s report, Cotton-Clark was using a cell phone at the time of the crash, and "was also speeding."

Lunceford said Cotton-Clark’s speedometer locked at 70 miles per hour.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Ronnie Daniel.

"Everyone was wearing their seatbelts," Lunceford said.

Mr. Concklin was not injured, but Mrs. Concklin was transported to Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler by Champion EMS with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Lunceford said the accident was due to Cotton-Clark’s speed, cell phone usage, and being on the wrong side of the roadway not passing.

No citations were issued for the crash.