LUMBERTON, Texas — Lumberton Police arrested a 36-year-old Kountze man Friday morning in connection with a wreck that killed a 69-year-old Silsbee woman a week ago.
12News was there when Lumberton Police arrested the man.
Chase Alan Kellar, 36, of Kountze, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death of Sheila Faye Ingham, 69, of Silsbee, according to Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins.
Preliminary test results show that Kellar's blood alcohol content was four times the legal limit, according to Sullins. In Texas the legal limit is .08%.
The fatal wreck happened when a Dodge Ram pickup truck, driven by Kellar, hit a Ford Focus, driven by Ingham, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 69 and West Chance Cutoff in Lumberton at about 10 p.m. Friday night, according to Sullins.
Many will be hitting the road for summer vacation and Lumberton police wants to remind people that drunk driving will not be tolerated.
12News spoke with the victim's son, Jeff Berg, who says he's glad his mom is getting justice. Sheila Ingham was a wife, mother, grandmother, friend and more.
"She had been a foster parent to some young ladies years ago, and she was there to see them graduate," said Berg.
A day of celebration turned into a tragedy as she was on the way home from that graduation.
"Shortly after 10 p.m. officers responded to a crash over on 69 at Chance cut off, where it turned out to be a fatal crash," said Lumberton Police Chief Danny Sullins. "A Dodge pickup had rear ended a Ford Focus that was stopped at a red light."
Kellar, the driver, was intoxicated and speeding at the time of the fatal crash.
"That stretch of Highway is 45 and we believe that vehicle was doing an excess of 25 over that."
Ingram's family is still trying to comprehend what happened.
"The vehicle that hit her never hit the breaks, it was full impact. They say she never saw it coming," said Berg. "And she felt no pain, she went instantly."
Berg describes his mom as a selfless woman with a huge heart.
"I can't let my anger, for this gentleman that just killed my mom override the love that I had for her," he said.
He says that his family has chosen to forgive the man responsible for the wreck that took his mother's life.
"We've all forgiven him and it's hard to do, but that's what she would've done," he said.
Berg wants people to remember that there are deadly consequences if you choose to drive under the influence this summer.
"Maybe this will open up some people's eyes and say, you know that it's not worth it," he said. "There's people that die everyday due to drunk driving and sometimes it's not them killing other people, sometimes it's them killing themselves."
Chief Sullins wants to remind those who drink and drive that they could end up facing jail time.
"Chase Kellar surrendered here at the police department this morning. And we took them in before Justice of the peace," said Chief Sullins. "And she said his bond at $250,000, for intoxication manslaughter a second-degree felony."
Ingham worked for 25 years as an esthetician, according to her obituary at Memorial Funeral Home in Vidor.
A visitation for Ingham is scheduled for Sunday night, June 2, 2024, from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Home of Vidor with services on Monday at 10 a.m. Her burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park in Vidor following the services.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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