Gregg County Appraiser Dead in Wreck

GREGG COUNTY — The man killed in a chain reaction wreck Monday was the senior industrial appraiser for the Gregg County Appraisal District. Gregg County DPS officials say two different wrecks led to the death of Michael Lee Barnett and the serious injury of another man on Interstate Highway 20. The first crash involving an 18-wheeler and a tanker happened near the Highway 42 exit at around 7:45am, followed by a 5-vehicle wreck 10 minutes later. Authorities on scene tell KETK the second wreck was caused by passersby slowing down and stopping in the middle lane to look at the first accident.

The Gregg County DPS says Barnett, 29, was from Tyler. The Longview News-Journal reports another driver, 68-year-old Jimmy Mitchell of Tyler, is in critical condition in a Longview hospital. He has undergone surgery. DPS officials say a truck caught fire after being rear-ended by a car. That car was then struck by another truck, which was then hit by a semi. During the crash, the car involved spun into a nearby ambulance that was already working the scene. No EMS workers were hurt. No word on whether any citations or charges have been made.