John Rella Harris Killed in Newton County Crash at Old Champion Road and SH 62

Newton County, Texas (August 26, 2019) – A man was killed in a traffic collision early Monday morning in Newton County, according to the DPS.

The fatal crash occurred around 5:30 a.m., at the intersection of Old Champion Road and SH 62.

DPS said a 2006 GMC pickup truck was traveling on Old Champion Road approaching SH 62 while a 2011 Peterbuilt truck tractor hauling timber was traveling northbound on SH 62.

The GMC driver attempted to turn left onto southbound SH 62 and pulled into the path of the log truck, resulting in a collision. The impact caused the trailer of the log truck to turn onto its side, spilling the load of timber onto the road.

The GMC driver, 51-year-old John Rella Harris of Buna, was declared dead at the scene.

The log truck driver, a 43-year-old Silsbee man, was uninjured in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation.