The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

A fatal accident was reported this morning to Orange police around 7:00 A.M. While en route to the scene, officers received information that one of the vehicles involved in the accident had fled the scene, but had been stopped by Orange County Sherrif's deputies. Deputies stopped the vehicle at Hwy. 62 S. and Hwy. 1078.

Upon arrival at the scene of the accident, officers found two occupants of the vehicle deceased. The vehicle had been northbound. The driver was a 40 year old Baytown resident and hispassenger was a 45 year old Houston resident.

Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Rodney Price responded to the scene and ordered autopsies on both subjects.

Names of the deceased are not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin.

The operator of the second vehicle, a 34 year old female resident of Orange was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont by Acadian Ambulance with non life threatening injuries.

The 32 year old male resident of Orange who was the operator of the vehicle which had fled the scene was arrested for two counts of Intoxication Manslaughter, one count of Intoxication Assault, and Failure to Stop and Render Aid.He was transported to the Orange County Jail and released to custody of the jail staff.

Officers of the Orange Police Department were assisted by deputies of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Orange Fire Department, the Texas Department of Transportation, and Acadian Ambulance.

Orange police are investigating the accident.