(The following story by Jessica Cooley appeared on The Lufkin Daily News website on February 28, 2010. Wesley is the son of Von Hahs, an Engineer and BLET member (Division 194) and grandson of former BLET National President Don Hahs. On behalf of the entire organization, BLET National President Paul Sorrow sent deepest condolences to Don Hahs and the entire Hahs family.)
LUFKIN, Texas — An accident involving a motorcycle and a sports utility vehicle claimed the life of a Lufkin man Sunday afternoon on state Highway 7.
Wesley Paul Hahs, 27, was out test-driving a 2007 Honda Shadow he was considering purchasing with the owner Marion Webb when the accident occurred around 3:50 p.m. in front of Pollok Baptist Church, according to Texas Department of Public Safety officials.
Hahs passed Webb over a blind hill in a no-passing zone and collided head-on with an eastbound Chevy Tahoe driven by Jane Chambers, 57, of Nacogdoches, Trooper Clint Henderson said.
“When he saw the Tahoe, he applied his brakes, but he hit them so hard he lost the ability to steer and hit them head-on,” Henderson said.
Neither Chambers nor her passenger, husband James Chambers, 47, was physically injured in the accident.
The Central Volunteer Fire Department and Lufkin Fire Department responded to the accident, but Hahs was killed instantly. Pct. 4 Judge Claude Marshall pronounced Hahs dead at the scene.
After the accident Webb contacted Hahs’ parents, who immediately came to the scene of the crash. Hahs’ father said he leaves behind a 7-year-old son and would have turned 28 on April 23. He said Hahs grew up in Humble, but moved to Lufkin.
Funeral arrangements for Hahs are pending.