HARDIN COUNTY, Texas — A Hardin County woman is miraculously safe at home following a horrific crash Sunday evening.
It happened along Highway 418, near Autumn Shadows Road, a few miles north of Silsbee.
Cindy Tomlinson, 60, was was less than a mile from returning home when she attempted to turn left into her neighborhood.
"I can't believe she's alive," said Richard Tomlinson, her husband.
He received a phone call from his wife who told him she was involved in a wreck.
Minutes later, Richard's heart dropped when he saw the scene.
"When I got there, I completely freaked out when I saw the car," said Richard. "The engine was 50 feet from the car."
According to DPS, a pickup truck hit her from behind at full speed while she stopped to turn.
The impact of the collision spun her Toyota Corolla around, which then got hit a second time by another pickup head-on.
Remarkably, Cindy walked away from her car following the crash.
"I just walked up and immediately hugged her and broke down," said Richard.
DPS says the 19-year-old driver who rear-ended Cindy, received a citation for failing to control his speed.
With the amount of damage to his wife's vehicle, Richard tells us he still can't believe Cindy wasn't severely hurt.
"I can't put together any kind of logical form at all, none of it makes any sense," said Richard.
The couple has been married for more than a decade and Richard says he's thankful the love of his life is still with him.
"She was protected, it wasn't her time," said Richard. "I'm a lucky man, I'd be lost if she was gone."
Cindy did get taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital with a cut to her head and bruises on her arms.
All tests came back positive and she was able to return home early Monday morning.
The other two drivers involved were not injured, according to DPS.
Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis did confirm to 12News that the driver of the second truck was an off-duty deputy.
Davis says the man is bruised and sore, but is recovering at home.
FROM A DPS NEWS RELEASE:
On November 24, 2019, at approximately 6:30p.m., the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers responded to a multiple vehicle crash on FM 418 in Hardin County. The crash occurred near Autumn Shadows Drive.
The preliminary DPS crash investigation indicates that a 2007 Toyota passenger vehicle was traveling westbound on FM 418 followed by a 2013 Dodge pickup truck. A 2016 Ford pickup truck was traveling eastbound on FM 418. The driver of the Toyota slowed to make a left turn onto Autumn Shadows Drive when her vehicle was rear-ended by the Dodge. The impact of the collision sent the Toyota into the eastbound traffic lane where the vehicle was then struck by the Ford pickup truck.
The driver of the Toyota, 60-year-old Cynthia Tomlinson of Silsbee, was transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth hospital. Her injuries did not appear to be life threatening.
The driver of the Dodge, 19-year-old Chance Shook of Spurger, and the driver of the Ford, 67-year-old Michael Langley of Silsbee, were not injured in the crash.
Shook was issued a traffic citation for failure to control speed.
There are no additional details available at this time.