Smith County Fatal Crash

From State Trooper Sgt. Jean Dark

At 5:20 Wednesday morning, Troopers were called to a two-vehicle fatal crash on NE Loop-323 in Smith County, a half-mile north of Tyler. Reportedly the driver of a 2009 Peterbilt truck-tractor towing a semi-trailer had exited a private drive on the west side of the roadway and was attempting to turn north on Loop-323. Due to traffic, the driver was unable to complete the turn and stopped in the center crossover median, the towed semi-trailer in the southbound lanes of traffic. At that time, the driver of a 2012 Chevrolet van, Kevin Christopher Turner, 27, of Gladewater, was traveling southbound on Loop-323 and struck the semi-trailer. Turner was transported to UT Health-Tyler where he later died; pronounced by Judge Shamburger.

The driver of the Peterbilt was identified as Aarayan Dray Johnson, 29, of Tyler. He was not injured.

The crash remains under investigation.