A vacuum truck driver for Daisetta-based C & L Vacuum Service was killed around midnight Monday in a one-vehicle accident on the Long Island Creek bridge on FM 834 near Hardin.
Authorities say the driver, Douglas Dewitt Garness II, 34, was traveling eastbound when he lost control of his vehicle, struck the south guardrail and rolled the vehicle into the creek. Garness was killed in the crash.
Liberty County Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Cody Parrish was called to the scene to make the pronouncement of death. No autopsy was ordered.
Liberty County Hazmat and fire departments for Hardin, Hull-Daisetta and Cypress Lakes responded. Smith Towing of Cleveland handled the recovery of the vehicle from the creek.
The crash scene is being investigated by Troopers Christopher Richmond and Spencer Shaw.
With 200 feet of guardrail damaged in the crash, TxDOT personnel on the scene projected that FM 834 in that area will be closed until 8 a.m. Tuesday. Commuters should seek another route.
Garness’ body was taken to Faith and Family Funeral Service of Batson.
State Trooper Spencer Shaw looks at the debris from a single-vehicle accident around midnight Monday on the Long Island Creek bridge on FM 834 between Hardin and Hull that resulted in the death of a 34-year-old Daisetta man. 
Jesse McGraw with Liberty County Hazmat walks into the marsh below Long Island Creek around 1 a.m. Tuesday to get buoys in place to collect spilled fuel from a single-vehicle accident on FM 834. 
A 34-year-old Daisetta man was driving a vacuum truck toward Hull late Monday night-early Tuesday morning when for unknown reasons he rolled the vehicle. He was killed in the crash. 
The partially submerged trailer that was being pulled by a vacuum truck owned by C&L Vacuum Service can be seen in this photo taken early Tuesday morning. 
A 34-year-old Daisetta man was driving a vacuum truck toward Hull late Monday night-early Tuesday morning when for unknown reasons he rolled the vehicle. He was killed in the crash. 
A 34-year-old Daisetta man was driving a vacuum truck toward Hull late Monday night-early Tuesday morning when for unknown reasons he rolled the vehicle. He was killed in the crash. A heavy-duty wrecker from Smith Towing of Cleveland was called to the scene to assist in the vehicle recovery. 
A 34-year-old Daisetta man was driving a vacuum truck toward Hull late Monday night-early Tuesday morning when for unknown reasons he rolled the vehicle. He was killed in the crash. 
A 34-year-old Daisetta man was driving a vacuum truck toward Hull late Monday night-early Tuesday morning when for unknown reasons he rolled the vehicle. He was killed in the crash.
It was not unknown reasons. He fell asleep. Get your facts straight.