Posted 11:05 pm Monday, July 09, 2012
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Good Samaritan Dies After Trying To Help Motorist In Smith County
By TIM MONZINGO
Staff Writer
A Good Samaritan fell to his death Sunday night while trying to help another motorist who lost control of his vehicle, a Smith County official said.
Justice of the Peace Mitch Shamburger said that around 11:30 p.m., a driver on a bridge where Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 69 intersect lost control of his pickup truck and spun out. Steven Kloppe, 26, of Tyler, and his wife stopped on the bridge to help, Shamburger said.
To avoid oncoming traffic, Shamburger said Kloppe hopped onto the bridge rail to gain access to the driver’s side door. Because of the rain, the railing was wet and slippery, Shamburger said.
Kloppe fell about 30 feet from the bridge, Shamburger said, and landed on a decommissioned railroad spur.
Shamburger said the driver of the truck reported that one instant Kloppe was there and in another he was gone.
He was taken by ambulance to Mother Frances hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 4:30 p.m. Monday, the judge said.
“It is a shame the story of someone doing such a good deed would end so — in tragedy,” Shamburger wrote in the email.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and Lindale Police Department assisted in responding to the incident, Shamburger said.
Staff Writer
A Good Samaritan fell to his death Sunday night while trying to help another motorist who lost control of his vehicle, a Smith County official said.
Justice of the Peace Mitch Shamburger said that around 11:30 p.m., a driver on a bridge where Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 69 intersect lost control of his pickup truck and spun out. Steven Kloppe, 26, of Tyler, and his wife stopped on the bridge to help, Shamburger said.
To avoid oncoming traffic, Shamburger said Kloppe hopped onto the bridge rail to gain access to the driver’s side door. Because of the rain, the railing was wet and slippery, Shamburger said.
Kloppe fell about 30 feet from the bridge, Shamburger said, and landed on a decommissioned railroad spur.
Shamburger said the driver of the truck reported that one instant Kloppe was there and in another he was gone.
He was taken by ambulance to Mother Frances hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 4:30 p.m. Monday, the judge said.
“It is a shame the story of someone doing such a good deed would end so — in tragedy,” Shamburger wrote in the email.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and Lindale Police Department assisted in responding to the incident, Shamburger said.
