Crash claims Grapeland man

A Sunday night, Sept. 20 crash on Hwy. 19 in Latexo claimed the life of 21-year-old Crockett resident Kevin McDaniels.
According to reports, the 2006 Yamaha motorcycle, driven by McDaniels, was northbound on Hwy. 19 when it turned left into the lane of a northbound 1998 Ford F-150 pickup, driven by Maria Rodriguez, 28, of Dallas.
The crash occurred about 9 p.m. 2.4 miles north of Loop 304.
McDaniels was ejected and the motorcycle slid along the roadway about 28 feet before coming to rest.
Authorities said McDaniels and four of his friends and his brother were riding their motorcycles together when the crash occurred.
The other motorcycle riders in the group were ahead of McDaniels and his brother and were not aware the crash had occurred.
Latexo Volunteer Fire Department was on the scene within minutes of the crash.
In addition, a Grapeland paramedic who was passing by the crash location stopped and began performing CPR on McDaniels.
Ms. Rodriguez, and her passenger Gumaro Gonzalez, 29, also from Dallas and three juveniles reportedly drove to the Latexo Baptist Church parking lot and called 911 to report the crash. They were also detained there by a Latexo Volunteer Fire Department firefighter who noticed the damage on the pickup.
Grapeland EMS responded to the call and transported McDaniels to ETMC Crockett where he was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Clyde Black.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Brady Germeroth responded to the call. Houston County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the call.
As of press time on Wednesday, the crash remained under investigation.