Local Woman Dies in Wreck Near Plum

A local woman died in a wreck on SH 71 near Plum on June 30.

The accident happened at 3:53 p.m. at the intersection of Loop 220 and SH 71. A report from DPS Trooper April Galvan-Usher stated that 82-yearold Georgia Hajek Denton of West Point was driving a gray 2013 Nissan Juke. The report said she was on Loop 220, stopped at the intersection of SH 71, and then attempted to cross the westbound lanes and get onto the eastbound side of SH 71.

Usher’s report said Denton failed to yield the right-of-way to a gray 2017 Ford F-250 that was heading west on SH 71. The pickup struck the left side of Denton’s Nissan. Both vehicles came to rest in the center median.

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts, and air bags deployed in both vehicles.

However, Denton died at the scene. The driver of the pickup, 39-year-old William Richard Cleveland of Smithville, was not injured.