JEFFERSON COUNTY, Texas — Officials are investigating a double fatal wreck that shut down Highway 73 at Labelle Road for a few hours Tuesday evening.
The wreck, that claimed two lives, happened at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.
Troopers say a Mitsubishi passenger car, driven by Yordi Geovanny Sang, 25, of Port Arthur, was traveling east, while a Chevrolet pickup, driven by Dorien Helms, 20, of Clute, was traveling west.
The car crossed over the grassy median into the westbound lane and was struck by the pickup truck according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Sang and a passenger, Kelly Cristina Garcia-Alban, 28, both of Port Arthur, were pronounced dead at the scene by Jefferson County Justice of the Peace, Pct. 4 Justin Chesson according to troopers.
Helms, the driver of the pickup, was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont for treatment.
Judge Chesson will order autopsies.
Traffic was diverted into LaBelle Road while the highway was shut down.
From a Texas Department of Public Safety news release:
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a fatal crash on state Highway 73, near LaBelle Road, that occurred today, August 22, 2023. The preliminary crash investigation indicates that at approximately 6 p.m., a Mitsubishi passenger car was traveling east, while a Chevrolet pickup was traveling west. It is reported that the passenger car crossed over the grassy median into the westbound lane and was struck by the pickup. The driver of the pickup was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. His information is not immediately available. The driver and one passenger in the Mitsubishi were pronounced deceased on scene by a Justice of the Peace. Their identities are not available pending notification of their next of kin. This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.