A Port Arthur man was seriously injured after his truck struck the back of a farm tractor from behind and split in half Wednesday night on Texas 73 near Veolia in Jefferson County.
At approximately 7:30p p.m. July 15, a commercial farm tractor was traveling eastbound on Texas 73 in the outside lane when the driver of a 2005 Chevrolet failed to control speed and struck the farm tractor from behind, according to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The force of the collision caused the pickup truck’s cab to become separated from its truck bed and veer into the center grass median. The impact caused the farm tractor to go off the roadway and onto the shoulder.
The driver of the farm tractor, Percy Villemez, 53, of Port Arthur, was transported by ambulance to Christus Hosptial-St. Mary with unknown injuries.  The driver of the Chevrolet, Patrick Pittman, 35, of Nederland, was transported by medical helicopter to Christus Hospital- St. Elizabeth in Beaumont. At this time, Pittman’s injuries are listed as serious.
The incident remains under investigation.