BEAUMONT, Texas — A New Year's Day crash brought significant damage to a Beaumont garden leading to the cancelation of an upcoming community event.
It happened on January 1, 2023, around 1 a.m. A vehicle lost control while driving over the Maury Meyers Bridge and crashed into The Giving Field.
The crash caused considerable damage, tearing up roughly half of the garden, Executive Director of The Giving Field Sharon Begnaud told 12News. The vehicle did not hit any beehives or chickens.
While the chickens were not injured, they did seem upset to Begnaud and stopped laying eggs for about four days.
Second Saturday has been canceled for January. While half of the garden is still viable, those over The Giving Field canceled their weekend work day to make sure no one inadvertently cross-contaminates some of the bad soil into an unaffected area.
Begnaud is working to get an estimate on repairs so the garden can once again begin to grow.
Items such as water lines, fences and garden beds have to be repaired. Begnaud believes they will have to do remediation and remove all the contaminated soil because the vehicle left a lot of gas and oil in the garden.
The Giving Field provides produce directly to several soup kitchens to feed those in need. The garden provides produce to Some Other Place in Beaumont, the Hospitality Center in Port Arthur and has started giving some to the Market to Hope.
Begnaud told 12News police do know who crashed into The Giving Field. It is unknown what charges, if any, the person may face.
Once those in charge of The Giving Field get the information they need to move forward, future additional opportunities will be available for volunteers to get involved.
Those who would like to help The Giving Field can donate online or send donations to St. Anne's Catholic Church located at 2715 Calder Avenue 77702.
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