Motorist Killed Helping State Trooper

LONGVIEW – A man killed in a Longview accident has been identified. He is Trent Ruchti Hepler, 32, of Longview. He was killed in an accident in the 4000 block of Estes Parkway shortly before 10:45 Tuesday morning.

Investigators say a state trooper had been traveling southbound on Estes Parkway in route to an accident scene when he lost control of his Chevrolet Tahoe and left the roadway, crossing the northbound lanes of traffic. The Trooper’s vehicle went through a chain link fence and struck a natural gas meter before coming to a stop. The trooper was not injured.

Two motorists, who had witnessed the accident, stopped to check on him, parking on the southbound shoulder of the roadway. As they were checking on the trooper, a large truck pulling a trailer attempted to avoid slowing traffic and lost control of his vehicle. The truck and trailer hit three pickup trucks and one of the two motorists, who was out of his vehicle. The motorist was pronounced dead at the scene by Gregg County Justice of the Peace Sam Lawson. A driver of one of the pickup trucks was transported to a Longview hospital with non-life threatening injuries.