Good Samaritan Falls to His Death near Lindale

SMITH COUNTY – A man fell to his death trying to help another motorist on Interstate Highway 20. The incident occurred around 11:30 Monday night on the 1-20 bridge at U.S. Highway 69. Killed was Steven Kloppe, 26, of Tyler. He had stopped on the bridge to assist a motorist who had spun out after loosing control of his pickup.

Kloppe was said to have jumped onto the bridge railing in order to assist the pickup’s driver. The rail was wet from the rain and Kloppe slipped, falling some 30 feet. He was rushed to Tyler’s Mother Francis Hospital where he died around 4:30 Monday afternoon.