The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

On Thanksgiving Day, the Texas Department of Public Safety received the initial call of a multiple vehicle crash on Interstate 10 near Hamshire Road in Jefferson County. Jefferson County 911 quickly began to receive numerous calls about subsequent motor vehicle crashes and reports of fog in the area.

DPS, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies, and medical personnel responded to the crash scene. State troopers investigated 18 separate motor vehicle crashes on Interstate 10 which damaged 95 vehicles, injured 29 people and killed 2 motorists. Fourteen of those crashes occurred in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10. From the crash scene, approximately 30 blue forms were issued to those drivers that did not request a peace officer’s written crash report. The blue forms are crash reports that are completed by the driver and submitted to their insurance companies and DPS.

Local EMS transported the injured to three area hospitals, Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas, Christus Hospital-St. Elizabeth in Beaumont, Texas and Christus Hospital-St. Mary in Port Arthur, Texas. Twelve of the injured were transported in serious condition. Many motorists with minor injuries refused medical attention at the scene.

Emergency personnel from Acadian Ambulance, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Winnie-Stowell Volunteer Fire Department, Labelle Fire Department, Hamshire Volunteer Fire Department, The American Red Cross, local towing companies and The Texas Department of Transportation were all on scene to assist DPS.

DPS continues its investigation of this multiple vehicle crash and will file appropriate charges based on Texas traffic law. Further information will be released as it becomes available.