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Sinton couple in rollover; husband dies from injuries
Gerald Black, News Editor - Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Emergency medical personnel, firefighters, police and passing motorists combine their efforts to rescue a Sinton couple following a rollover accident just one mile south of Pleasanton along U.S. Hwy. 281 on Tuesday afternoon, October 13. The wife (still in the SUV) did not receive serious injuries. Her husband, who had been ejected from the vehicle, died from his injuries about 23 hours later. (Express photo by Gerald Black)

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An elderly couple from Sinton was involved in one-vehicle rollover around 4 p.m. Tuesday, October 13. As a result of injuries received when he was ejected, the husband passed away about 23 hours later — at 3:08 p.m. Wednesday.

The couple was traveling north on U.S. Hwy. 281 on their way to Hondo to watch their granddaughter play in a volleyball game.

The officer who investigated the accident, DPS Trooper Jim Kellert, said the driver of the 2005 Trailblazer SUV, Barbara Sunderman, age 79, told him that her husband, Frank, age 86, had just told her she was beginning to drive off the roadway. She over corrected to the right and lost control of the vehicle. The SUV rolled over along side the road. The momentum ejected Mr. Sunderman. He was taken by ambulance to the Pleasanton Municipal Airport where he was transferred to an AirLife helicopter and flown to University Hospital in San Antonio.

At the scene Mrs. Sunderman was described to be in shock, but suffered no major injuries. With some assistance, Barbara Sunderman was able to walk down the hill from where the SUV came to rest to the ambulance where medical personnel treated her. Another team of emergency personnel tended to Frank Sunderman.

County deputies and Pleasanton police responded to assist DPS officers at the scene. DPS Sgt. Sid Pullin assisted with overall accident scene control. Cpl. Bob Bratten assisted with gathering of information and used his expertise in accident reconstruction.