Hwy 259 gets grading following accidents

Rain and road conditions played havoc with the northbound section of US Hwy 259 just south of Lone Star last week. In a span of a little over 24 hours, according to Police Chief Larry Fleet, two tractor-trailers jackknifed, and an RV flipped over. One truck even crossed all the way over into south-bound lanes. “Over time, the surface of the road gets worn down, and some drivers come around that curve too fast.” said Chief Fleet. “Add heavy rain to that, and hydroplaning is a problem.” Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle’s tires hit a thin layer of water, lose traction and skid out of control. The best way to avoid hydroplaning, according to most experts, is to slow down in heavy rain, avoid driving through standing water on the highway, and keep tires inflated and in good condition. Some sources also advise turning off cruise control when driving in rain, because it will maintain a vehicle’s speed even when it starts to hydroplane, which could be dangerous.

After the third incident on Wednesday, Lone Star Mayor Karl Stoermer contacted TxDot and they responded quickly. Before nightfall, TxDot posted two units with flashing lights along that stretch of Hwy. 259, to warn drivers in both directions of the hazardous road conditions. On Thursday, TxDot sent a crew out, in the rain, to grade both the northbound and southbound sections of the highway. The deep grooves help drain the water off faster, which allows vehicles to get more traction in heavy rain. “Everyone walked away from these accidents,“ Chief Fleet reported. “Considering how bad it could have been, they were very fortunate.”