Pittsburg couple dies in Upshur County crash
A Pittsburg couple, expecting their first child in 2021, has tragically died after colliding with another vehicle in Upshur County Dec. 2.
At approximately 4:09 p.m., Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers were notified of a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 271 in Upshur County about one mile north of Gilmer. A preliminary investigation indicates that a 2018 Dodge Ram was traveling southbound on U.S. 271.
For an as-yet-undetermined reason, the Dodge, driven by Pittsburg resident William Parks, 36, lost control and went into the northbound lane where it struck a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Gilmer resident Stephen Whitaker, 28. According to the accident report, it was raining at the time of the crash and the roadway was wet.
Parks, along with his wife and passenger, Ashley Parks, 32, of Pittsburg, both died at the scene. They were taken to a funeral home in Gilmer and later to Erman Smith Funeral Home in Pittsburg. Whitaker, 28, of Gilmer, was taken to a local hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash remains under investigation and no additional information is currently available.
A memorial service will be held at a later date for both William and Ashley Parks under the direction of Erman Smith Funeral Home in Pittsburg.
Formerly of Sulphur Springs, Mr. Parks, a photographer, was born March 24, 1984 to Kenny Parks and Gala Renea Buckner Lawrence in Mount Pleasant.
Preceded in death by his wife, Ashley Nicole Molloy Parks; daughter, Indie Rain Parks; and his grandmothers, Patricia Ann Buckner and Linda Bachlor, he is survived by his parents, father, Kenny Parks; mother, Gala Renea Buckner Lawrence; brothers: Cason Parks and Reggie Davis; sisters: Rylee Parks, Maddy Parks, Kendall Parks, Camryn Parks, and Kapler Lawrence; nephews Chandler Moore, Brody Rawson and Caston Sewell and niece Marleigh Mae.
Ashley Nicole Molloy Parks, a Pittsburg native, was born November 11, 1988 to Greg Molloy and Lisa Renee Manley Gill in Mount Pleasant.
She worked as a private nurse and is survived by her parents, father, Greg Molloy; mother, Lisa Renee Manley Gill; brother Ashton Molloy; sisters Audra Sewell and Allex Gill, grandmother, Patsy Manley; nephews Caston Sewell, Chandler Moore and Brody Rawson and niece Marleigh Mae.
She was preceded in death by husband, William Kyle Parks, daughter, Indie Rain Parks, bonus mom, Robin “Birdie” Molloy, and grandparents Ed and Nell Molloy.
