Speakes killed in car wreck 11-03-2009

LELAND SPEAKES SR. OF CLEVELAND WAS KILLED TUESDAY AFTERNOON AFTER HIS VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH AN 18-WHEELER GRAIN TRUCK.  MISSISSIPPI HIGHWAY PATROL SPOKESMAN TONY DUNN SAID SPEAKES WAS TRAVELING WEST ON PEMBLE ROAD WHEN HE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK.  SPEAKES WAS TRAPPED INSIDE HIS S-U-V AND DIED AT THE SCENE, THE TRUCK DRIVER, 52-YEAR-OLD LEE ALTMAN OF MARKS, MISSISSIPPI WAS TRANSPORTED TO DELTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER WITH NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. SPEAKES WAS A PILLAR IN THE CLEVELAND COMMUNITY HAVING BUILT HIS PROFESSIONAL LIFE IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY IN CLEVELAND AND BOLIVAR COUNTY. HE WAS ALSO A LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE MERIGOLD HUNTING CLUB AND A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE PRESBYTERIAN DAY SCHOOL IN CLEVELAND. SPEAKES WAS 80-YEARS-OLD.