A temporary ambulance service is in place in northeast Leon County, and a permanent service is a few weeks away after Saturday's election. But Sunday, a nightmare scenario played out on I-45, leaving a child dead.

Minutes before noon, DPS says a southbound vehicle from Arlington veered out of its lane just north of Buffalo, its driver over-correcting, causing the vehicle to flip into the median.

Zachary Missik, 11 of Arlington, was in the backseat and not wearing a seat belt, according to DPS, when he was ejected from the SUV. He would die 90 minutes later at Hillcrest Baptist Hospital in Waco. Leon County officials say Missik was taken by helicopter.

The driver, 68-year-old Shirley Elliott of Arlington and another passenger, 40-year-old Mary Ann Elliott also of Arlington, were taken to East Texas Medical Center in Fairfield with non-life-threatening injuries.

That portion of Leon County voted Saturday in favor of creating an emergency service district to restore permanent ambulance service to the area. Just weeks ago, Palestine EMS discontinued its all-but-free service to the cities of Buffalo, Oakwood and Flo, as well as a highly-traveled stretch of I-45, which runs between Houston and Dallas.

Legacy EMS had been contracted by the county for temporary service. It will continue providing ambulances and care until a permanent provided is determined in the coming weeks.

A 10-cent property tax increase for northeast Leon County residents came with the vote in favor of creating an ESD.