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Melanie Rebecca Painter

Age : 53

Gender : Female

Race : White

Date : 03/31/2021

Location : TX-94 and Dean Creek Hunting Club Rd

City : Trinity

County : Trinity

State : Texas

Agency : Texas Department of Public Safety

Officer(s) :Brady Germeroth

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police vehicle crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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NARRATIVE:
On 03/31/2021 at approximately 6:45 p.m., Melanie Painter, 53, of Groveton was driving a 2019 Jeep Wrangler on State Highway 94 approximately six miles west of Groveton. Texas DPS Trooper Brady Germeroth, 37, of Crockett was traveling west in a marked Chevrolet patrol vehicle when he observed a traffic violation by a separate eastbound vehicle and made a U-turn to pursue that vehicle.
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As Germeroth attempted to re-enter the eastbound lane, a 2003 Mack truck tractor pulling a pole trailer, driven eastbound by Chad Deford, 35, crossed into the westbound lane and collided head-on with Painter's Jeep. The Mack then crossed back over the eastbound lane, struck the right rear of Germeroth's patrol vehicle, left the roadway, overturned onto its passenger side and caught fire.
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Painter suffered critical injuries and was transported to Crockett Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Deford and Germeroth were not injured. The vehicle Germeroth had turned around to stop was not reported as being involved in the collision.
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Texas DPS investigated the three-vehicle fatal crash.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://kicks105.com/dps-trooper-involved-in-fatal-accident-on-hwy-94-near-groveton/
https://www.ktre.com/2021/04/01/vehicle-crash-involving-state-trooper-leaves-dead-trinity-county/