Woman Dies at Dangerous LG Intersection

An elderly woman died after a crash near Texas One Stop in La Grange on Monday, Nov. 7. A passenger that was in her car remains hospitalized in critical condition as of Wednesday morning.

The crash happened around 8:40 a.m. According to a report from the La Grange Police Department, a gray 2018 Hyundai Elantra was on the SH 71 feeder road facing east. The car attempted to enter the intersection with SH 159 and pulled in front of an 18-wheeler owned by HE- B Grocery Stores. The rig was heading west on SH 159 into La Grange.

That area has been the site of more than it’s share of accidents in recent years.

The report said the Hyundai failed to yield the right-of-way to the 18-wheeler, which was a red 2020 Volvo truck-tractor pulling a box trailer. The semi-rig struck the Hyundai on the passenger side. After the impact, the car slammed into a 2018 Dodge Ram that was owned by the City of La Grange. The Hyundai left the roadway and came to rest in the grassy area on the north side of the intersection near Texas One Stop.

The driver of the Hyundai was 83-year-old Eileen Perlmutter of Houston. A passenger, 82-year-old Marilyn Mueller of Alpharetta, Georgia, was also in the car. Both suffered critical injuries. La Grange Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene. Firefighters used extrication tools to cut the car apart and remove the passenger. Firefighters were able to open the other door and remove the driver.

La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath said medical helicopters would not fly that day due to weather conditions. Fayette County EMS transported both women to Dell Seton Hospital in Austin by ground ambulance. Gilbreath reported Wednesday morning that the driver, Perlmutter, died at the hospital. He said Mueller remained hospitalized in critical

condition. The 18-wheeler was driven by 37-year-old Breylon Garland of Humble. He was not injured. Nor was the driver of the Ram pickup, 43-year-old Richard Oppermann of La Grange.

La Grange Police Officer Thomas Kenny investigated the crash. Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputy A.J. Gonzales assisted at the scene as well.