Accident claims life of Childress man

A Childress man lost his life Monday afternoon in a two-vehicle accident east of Clarendon.

Department of Public Safety Trooper Daniel Hawthorn said Johnnie Lee Lott was driving a 2012 Cadillac SRX in the outside lane of eastbound US 287 at 3:25 p.m. There was heavy rain and low visibility, and Lott stopped his vehicle in the outside lane and was struck from behind by a 2004 Ford F250 pickup driven by Teddy Joe Atwood, Jr., of Pampa.

Both vehicles ended up in the median with the pickup running into a pine tree.

Lott, age 77, was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:56 by Justice of the Peace Denise Bertrand.

Lott’s wife, 77-year-old June Hall Lott, was in the passenger seat and was hurt critically with internal injuries. She was transported to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo. Mr. and Mrs. Lott were both wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

Responding to the accident were personnel with the Department of Public Safety, Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department, Associated Ambulance Authority, Donley County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Department of Transportation.