Published: June 05, 2009 09:09 pm      

In Memory

White cross placed to mark spot of tragic wreck

A small white cross was recently placed near the roadway on FM 105 in Vidor to mark the location where Learlie Tyler, 43, of Silsbee lost her life when a drunk driver struck her vehicle.

Family members and friends attended the small ceremony to mark the occasion of the cross being placed at the scene.

Officials with Mothers Against Drunk Driving place the crosses as part of a public awareness effort. The land around the crosses is maintained by people on a community service list. Sometimes it is people who have been convicted of drunk driving themselves.

Tyler with her sister, Leslie Elam, along with their friend Joanne Williams, all of Silsbee, had just finished a night at the game room on FM105, just north of Vidor, in December 2007. Learlie Tyler called her husband, Bobby, about midnight and said they were on their way home.

Learlie and her passengers were in her Honda Accord traveling north on FM 105 while Edward Hampton Hart, 28, of Vidor, was going south in his 2500 Chevrolet pickup truck. The pickup crossed over the center line hitting the Honda nearly head-on, according to reports from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The vehicles came to rest about 65 yards apart and facing each other.

While Learlie Tyler died as a result of the accident, Elam suffered life-threatening injuries. Williams, who was in the back seat of the vehicle, was not seriously injured.

However, Hart walked to a friend’s house where he called for someone to come get him and take him back to the Christmas party he had attended before he was involved in the accident. Hart told people at the party his truck was in a ditch after the accident.

Police later located him at the residence where the party was located. During court testimony, Hart said after being transported to the county jail, he refused to allow officials to test his blood because it violated his “right to privacy.”

Family members said they were “emotionally bothered” and have often wondered if Learlie Tyler would have lived if she had received medical attention. It is unknown how long the women were out there alone. A passerby later came across the wreck and called 911 for help.

Bobby Tyler was too shaken up to get out of the vehicle once he arrived at the scene and didn’t want to see his wife of 24 years in that condition. Officials asked his brother, Thomas Tyler, to identify the body of Learlie Tyler, which was still located in the driver’s seat of her vehicle.

One-by-one other family members arrived at the grisly scene.

“FM 105 is a dangerous strip of highway,” said Kathy Schexnaider-Bell, of MADD.

Another wreck which recently occurred nearby was that of three Vidor boys who were also hit by a drunk driver. They are still recovering from the incident.

Hart received a 15-year prison sentence in January.

Schexnaider-Bell said she will continue to place the crosses on sites where a person was killed as a result of a intoxicated driver. She added she has about 30 crosses placed or waiting to be placed. For each one she must follow the guidelines set by the Texas Department of Transportation.



Debby Schamber is a reporter for the Orange Leader. She can be reached at 409-883-3571 ext. 2603 or at dschamber@orangeleader.com.