Motorcycle accident claims another life

Kilgore police responded to the scene of yet another motorcycle fatality at approximately 6 a.m. today at the intersection of Stone Road and Pentecost Road.

Ronnie Moore, Kilgore director of public safety, said early this morning that the one-vehicle accident appeared to have resulted when the operator of the motorcycle ran off the road.

According to Ron England, Kilgore police captain, 29-yearold Christopher Westmoreland, a Longview resident staying with a friend in Kilgore, was westbound on Stone Road at an extremely high rate of speed when he failed to negotiate a curve.

Westmoreland was ejected from the motorcycle. His body traveled approximately 180 feet before being stopped by a sign post. His motorcycle traveled nearly 300 feet across Pentecost Road before being stopped in a wooded area.

Westmoreland was dead at the scene.

According to England, Westmoreland was a US Marine with the 14th regiment, a reserve artillery regiment, from Ft. Worth.

Officers Paul Berry and Casey Keahey are investigating the accident and were still on the scene at press time.