Published: June 06, 2009 12:34 am      

Fatality accident claims life of man, dog I-30 traffic blocked for hours on Monday

A man and his dog died in a noon vehicle crash Monday on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 30 at Farm to Market 550.

Witnesses interviewed by the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Department said it appeared that a man driving eastbound in a Dodge Ram 2500 pick-up started to take the exit for FM 550, then swerved back onto the interstate, but crashed into the trailer of a big rig parked on the shoulder just beyond the exit.

The deceased is Alton C. Sutton, age 69, of Winnsboro.

Most likely, he was killed on impact, according to the report, but the body has been sent to the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy.

Deputy Casey Northcutt led the investigation.

It was a lengthy extrication process to remove Sutton from the truck, according to the sheriff’s department, after which responders also found the body of the dog.

Uninjured was Donald C. Greene, of Pomeroy, Iowa, who was just walking back to his cab after checking on a damaged mud flap on a rear tire, according to the report. He had parked his International tractor with trailer just beyond the exit.

Judge Larry Holloway pronounced Sutton dead and the body was sent to the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy.

Traffic was blocked in the eastbound lanes for more than four hours.