Goodrich, TX – May 16, 2025
A violent two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 59 near Goodrich left one woman with serious injuries and another man hospitalized Friday afternoon. The crash occurred around 3:05 p.m. at the north end of Loop 393, when an 81-year-old Goodrich resident reportedly pulled onto the highway in the path of oncoming traffic.
According to Texas Highway Patrol reports, Roberta Gooby was driving a blue 2024 Toyota Camry and attempted to enter the southbound lanes of US-59 from Loop 393 when her vehicle was broadsided by a gray 2013 Nissan Altima driven by Santiago Ospina Ortiz, 27, of Cypress.
The impact was severe, sending Gooby’s car spinning across the roadway into the northbound lanes, while Ortiz’s vehicle came to a stop in the southbound lanes. Emergency responders arrived swiftly on scene, including the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department’s Heavy Rescue Unit, Allegiance Ambulance Service, and law enforcement personnel from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Highway Patrol.
Gooby was found trapped inside her vehicle. Firefighters used the Jaws-of-Life to cut through the wreckage and safely extract her. Due to the severity of her neck and head injuries, an Air Life medical helicopter was dispatched and landed on the northbound side of the highway. She was flown to Hermann Hospital in Houston for treatment.
Ortiz, who also sustained injuries in the collision, was transported by ground ambulance to CHI Livingston Memorial Hospital.
According to statements from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), both drivers sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The accident resulted in full closure of U.S. 59 in both directions as crews worked to investigate the scene and clear debris. The Texas Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash, though preliminary findings suggest that Gooby may have failed to yield the right of way, and a citation is likely.
Ortiz’s vehicle was towed by Ken’s Towing and Gooby’s vehicle was recovered by Dan’s Towing, both out of Livingston.
Officials have not released additional updates on the condition of either driver as of Saturday morning.
For continuing updates on this story and other local news, stay tuned to official sources and local coverage from Polk County news outlets.
