Just five days into the new year, a mixture of fog and smoke from marsh fires turned the early morning commute on Highway 73 into a disaster.
Vehicle after vehicle smash into each other in a chain reaction, a total of 79 vehicles were involved. 53 people were hurt but miraculously no one died.
Fast forward two months to March when the Jefferson County Courthouse would turn into a crime scene.
The Beaumont Police Department says Bartholomew Granger opened fire in front of the courthouse with a semi-automatic rifle.
Police say Granger shot four people, including his own daughter before running her over her with his truck.
Granger was on trial that day for sexual assault and police say his daughter was going to testify against him.
Officers say 79-year-old Minnie Seabolt of Deweyville was an innocent bystander killed by Granger's gunfire.
Summer time in 2012 brought the Olympics.
Representing the United States and the town of Newton -- was 19-year-old trampoline gymnast Savannah Vinsant.
Against the worlds best she placed 6th making history as the first U.S. trampolinist to make it to the finals.
Then there was the cheer heard around the world, the call for Christ at Kountze football games in September.
Cheerleaders made run through banners with bible scripture for football games only to have them banned by Kountze ISD.
Over the course of a few weeks a group of parents went to the courts to fight for their children's rights.
The girls received a temporary injunction allowing the banners until another hearing in 2013.
Up to 150 vehicles become involved in a massive pile up Thanksgiving day on Interstate 10.
The Texas Department of Public Safety says 29 people were injured.
Vincent and Debbie Leggio of Pearland were killed, their SUV crushed by an 18-wheeler. DPS says dense fog caused 18 separate accidents.
DPS recommended the driver of the 18-wheeler be charged with criminally negligent homicide.
December capped off a long year for Beaumont ISD electrician Calvin Walker.
The embattled electrician was sentenced to five years probation following his guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of failure to pay taxes in a timely manner.
In exchange for that deal, 37 criminal charges resulting from his work for BISD were dropped.
Walker also must pay $660,000 in restitution, a $60,000 fine and do 400 hours of community service.
He faced up to three years in prison.
