Tammy Jo Mahon Identified As Victim In Chandler Highway Accident In Tyler

Thursday, January 29, the Tyler Police Department responded to an accident on the 4700 block of Chandler Highway around 4:30 p.m.

A woman driving a truck, later identified as 48-year-old Tammy Jo Mahon of Chandler, died at the scene after being partially ejected from her truck.

Sources say that Mahon was driving westbound on Chandler Highway when she struck another vehicle that was also traveling westbound. Mahon’s truck then left the road and rolled. She was partially ejected and died on impact.

The other two occupants of the vehicle hit by the truck were taken to the hospital for treatment for minor injuries sustained in the accident.

There are two types of ejections that can occur during an accident. A partial ejection, like Mahon suffered, is when the body is only part of the body is thrown through the glass or outside of the vehicle. A total ejection is when the body completely leaves the vehicle. Both types of ejection require a large amount of force, which can cause serious injury to those in an accident resulting in partial or total ejection.

Injuries that are caused by ejection include spinal cord injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, cracked skull, concussion, severe lacerations, internal bleeding injuries, paralysis, and quite often if the force is large enough, death.

There are many factors that can contribute to injuries sustained from ejection. These include door latches on the vehicle that are faulty, a malfunction with the seat belt, side windows that are weak, the speed at the time the collision occurred, and in the case of Mahon, a roll-over accident.

The reason as to why Mahon’s truck struck the other vehicle is still being investigated at this time. There was nothing indicated in the report that drugs, alcohol, or weather played a significant role in the accident.