Man to Be Charged in Fatal Wreck in Gregg County

EAST MOUNTAIN � An East Texas man faces criminal charges in a deadly Gregg County crash Tuesday. Smith County Trooper Jean Dark tells KETK the wreck took place at 12:25 p.m. on the 4700 block of FM 1844, half a mile east of East Mountain. Dark said the wreck was caused by a truck driver not paying attention. He�s identified as Leon Gearhart, 31, of Longview, and he�s to be charged with criminally negligent homicide.

Dark says a van was waiting to turn left in the westbound lane on 1844 to turn into a private drive when the truck failed to control speed and rear-ended the van in its back left quarter panel. The truck then veered into the eastbound lane and hit a car head-on. The driver of the car, Mattie Jones, 82, of Gilmer, was taken to a Longview hospital. She was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson at 1:41 p.m. Her body was sent to Rader Funeral Home in Longview. Dark said Amie Whitely, 34, of Gladewater, was driving the van.