LABELLE, Texas — One driver was taken by ambulance for treatment at a Beaumont hospital after a fiery wreck involving a car and an 18-wheeler Monday morning near LaBelle.
Troopers investigating the wreck say it appears that a 2003 Dodge SUV was headed west along Teas Highway 365 at about 9:30 a.m. when the it turned left into the path of an eastbound 2017 Peterbilt truck tractor according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The SUV, driven by a 20-year-old Houston man, was struck by the 18-wheeler, driven by a 51-year-old Humble man, as it attempted to turn into a business in the 13500 block of Texas Highway 365 the release said.
Photos from the scene appear to show that the SUV caught fire and burned.
The 18-wheeler struck the right side of the Dodge SUV and then drove into a parking lot where it struck four other vehicles according to the news release.
The driver of the 18-wheeler was not injured and the driver of the SUV was taken to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment the release said.
The wreck briefly shut down the highway from Burrell-Wingate Rd. to Labelle Rd.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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From a Texas Department of Public Safety news release...
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a crash involving a commercial motor vehicle on Farm-to-Market Road 365 at Labelle Road, today, October 24, 2022.
The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 9:30 a.m., a 2003 Dodge SUV was traveling west, while a 2017 Peterbilt truck tractor semi-trailer was traveling east.
It is reported that the driver of the SUV attempted to make a left turn into a private drive and turned into the path of the truck tractor.
The truck tractor struck the SUV on its right side, then traveled off the road to the right and struck four more vehicles which were parked in a parking lot.
These vehicles included a 2005 Ford pickup, a 2012 Chevrolet passenger car, a 2010 Mazda passenger car, and a 1997 Chevrolet SUV.
The driver of the SUV, identified as 20-year-old Kason Ricks of Houston, was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.
The driver of the truck tractor, identified as 51-year-old Mark Papillion of Humble, was not injured.
This is an ongoing investigation and there is no further information available at this time.