Courtesy Photo
Rocky Clay Patterson

By Mary Jane Farmer, the Van Alstyne News 

The investigation into a 3-vehicle crash that happened a little after noon on Sunday and that claimed three lives, is still on-going, said Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Tony De La Certa.

The crash happened on FM-3133, just west of Jim Cannon Road.

De La Certa reported that a 2007 Dodge 3500 was westbound behind a 2017 Toyota Tacoma, ascending a hill. The driver of the Dodge attempted to pass the Toyota in a No-Passing Zone and struck a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado head-on, causing the Chevrolet to catch on fire. The The driver of the Chevrolet Silverado, Tommy Moorehead III, a 41-year-old from Leonard, Texas, was pronounced deceased at the scene, as were both of his passengers, a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old.

The driver of the Dodge 3500, Rocky Patterson, a 63-year-old from Rowlett, Texas, was transported to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in McKinney.

The driver of the Tacoma, Dennis Pringle, a 74-year-old from Anna, was treated at the scene.

Texas Highway Patrol troopers obtained an arrest warrant for Patterson, charging him with second-degree felony on three county of Manslaughter. They arrested him and booked him into Grayson County Jail on the three second-degree felony charges.

Bail is set on the charges at $1,000,000 each, for a total bail of $3,000,000. As of Tuesday, Patterson remains incarcerated.

De La Cerda said that no additional information is available. Calls and E-mails to the Leonard Tribune, a weekly newspaper, were not timely returned.