Motorcycle accident claims Kilgore mans life

A Kilgore man was killed Thursday when his motorcycle was struck by a car at the intersection of F.M. 3053 and Goforth Rd.

Trooper James Ammons, Department of Public Safety, who worked the accident said the motorcycle was driven by Richard Cox, 64, of Kilgore.  The vehicle that struck Cox was a 1996 Eagle Vision driven by Marie Zuniga, 39, also of Kilgore.

Ammons said Cox was northbound on FM 3053, traveling through the intersection at Goforth. There was no stop sign on the FM 3053 side of the intersection. Zuniga stopped at the stop sign at that same intersection, traveling west on Goforth Rd. Ammons said Zuniga left the stop sign, though, and pulled out in front of Cox. Cox’s motorcycle hit the left front of Zuniga’s vehicle.

“Cox was pronounced dead at the scene,” said Ammons. “Justice of the Peace Talyna Carlson pronounced him dead at 3:30 p.m.

The accident happened at approximately 2:52 p.m.

Ammons said Zuniga has been charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide for failing to yield right of way.

“The case will be turned over to the Gregg County District Attorney for any further action,” said Ammons. “It is DPS policy to file all possible charges in a fatality accident.”

Cox’ death was the second accident this week in which a motorcyclist was killed by an automobile. On Saturday, April 19, school teacher Shannon Gilley was killed when the motorcycle driven by her husband was struck by a pickup driven by Kerry Richard Robinson.

Kilgore police department has not filed any charges in connection with that accident. Friday afternoon, Kilgore police told the newspaper that they could not determine whether drugs or alcohol were factors in Gilley’s death. But the department told a Tyler television station that alcohol might have been a factor in that collision.