The Ellis County Press: Christmas trip turns fatal

Christmas trip turns fatal
================================================================================
Megan Gray on 12/22/2011 18:38:00


WAXAHACHIE - A Christmas trip turned fatal when 50-year-old Penny Schimank, of
Lincoln, allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel with her three children in the
car driving down Interstate Highway 35- E, near the 403 exit ramp, Saturday,
Dec. 17.
According to the crash report issued by the Waxahachie Police Department,
Schimank was driving north bound on the 1400 block of Interstate Highway 35- E
when James Montgomery, 68, of Corsicana was parked on the right shoulder of the
same location. When Schimank fell asleep, she drifted off of the right side of
the roadway in her 2002 tan Chevrolet Suburban and collided with Montgomery’s
2003 white Mack truck causing Schimank to spin clockwise and stopping to rest on
the vehicles right side.
The crash, occurring around 8:20 a.m. , instantly killed the oldest of the
children, front passenger, Bethany D. Schimank, 19.
Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Jackie Miller pronounced her dead at 9:30 a.m.
before the body was transported by Wayne Boze Funeral Home to the Dallas County
Medical Examiner’s office.
“Cause is still under investigation but seems mom was heading to Christmas out
of state,” said Miller.
“She(Bethany) was the same age as my daughter, my heart and prayers go out to
all of the family.”
The other two children and the mom were transported by CareFlite  and taken to
Charlton Methodist Dallas.  Updates on their injures were unavailable as of
press time.
Montgomery, employee of B G Trucking in Corsicana, was written a ticket at the
scene for an expired inspection sticker. He had no reported injuries.
No charges have been filed as the investigation is still pending.