Accident involving tractor-trailer rig near Rusk claims life of Minnesota man
Mar. 26—CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas — Nicholas Schintgen, 44, of Lino Lakes, Minn. was killed as a result of a two-vehicle traffic accident that occurred at 1:43 p.m. Monday afternoon on U.S. Highway 69 South, about five miles outside of Rusk.
Schintgen was driving a 2023 Ram van that was struck by a 2011 Freightliner truck that was pulling a trailer.
According to a preliminary report issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the driver of the big rig, Nelson Terrell, 38, from Houston, was driving at an unsafe speed for the wet road conditions and lost control of the truck and veered over into the path of the van, forcing it off of the west side of the highway and into a tree.
Schintgen did not survive the crash and was pronounced at the scene by Justice of the Peace Amber Hood.
The report did not indicate that Terrell was injured.
Both men were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
The investigation is on-going and no additional information is available at this time.
Trooper T. Murdoch out of the Henderson DPS Office investigated the incident.
