Fatality in Two-Vehicle Accident on U.S. 277 South of San Angelo

The Christoval Volunteer Fire Department is extracting a victim of a two-car accident just north of Christoval and 15 miles south of San Angelo, Tx on U.S. 277. A black Dodge Ram 2500’s driver appears to be pinned inside.

Off in the ditch, 15 yards away from the Dodge, which blocks both lanes of traffic, is an overturned SUV of unknown make and model. Both vehicles are black in color. Girl Scout cookie boxes litter the area around the overturned SUV, according to eyewitnesses on the scene.

Shannon Hospital’s Life Flight helicopter has already airlifted victims from the crash scene.

It appears that the Dodge Ram was headed northbound and collided with the black SUV. The combined velocity of the two vehicles meant that both collided at a high rate of speed, and they hit head-on.

All north and southbound traffic is diverted on to the shoulder around the scene.

San Angelo LIVE! will update this story as information becomes available. We have two reporters on the scene.

Update 11:48 p.m.

The exact location of the accident is U.S. 277 and 1/4 mile north of McDonald Rd. just north of Christoval, TX.

Update 12:11 a.m.

DPS confirms one dead from the Dodge 2500. One victim transported from the scene on a Shannon Life Flight helicopter.

Update 12:23 a.m.

Justice of the Peace arrived on scene at 12 a.m. and just departed at 12:15 p.m. One fatality confirmed. Wrecker service is lifting mangled Dodge Ram 2500 up on a flatbed truck.

Update 12:45 p.m.

DPS confirms head-on collision. The female driving the black Chevrolet Suburban was transported to (unconfirmed) Shannon Medical Center. The call to respond to the accident occurred at 10 p.m. DPS doesn't expect alcohol or drugs, but tests will be performed on the victims. A passer-by called in the accident. Seatbeat worn by Suburban driver, but when she was removed from the vehicle, she was in the back seat. DPS confirms that the driver of the Dodge Ram 2500 was killed. 

Update 10:30 a.m., Saturday

TXDPS Public Information Officer Shawn Baxter has released the names of those involved in the crash. The driver of the truck has been identified as 28-year-old Michael Eugene Bell, an oil field worker from Palestine, TX. Bell was pronounced deceased on the scene around midnight by Justice of the Peace Kay Longest. Bell's body was taken to Johnson's Funeral Home. Next of kin has been notified.

The driver of the SUV was 38-year-old Christy Louella Arendt. Arendt was taken to Shannon Medical Center with incapacitating injuries and as of midnight her condition was critical, Baxter said.  She is from Eldorado and works as an RN at Community Medical Center, according to her online profile. 

Department of Public Safety Debriefing

More: U.S. 277 south of San Angelo, Tx was the scene of two additional fatalities in Nov. 2013.

The exact location of the accident