VIDOR, Texas — The man responsible for a fatal wreck that took the life of an Orange woman has been located and charged with manslaughter.
(Editor's note: The above video was aired on May 26, 2024)
On Friday, just after 12:30 a.m., Vidor police and detectives located the driver of the vehicle involved in the death of Samantha Lee Townsend, 30, of Orange.
Shawn Anthony Howard, 48, of Pine Forest, was found at his residence and arrested on a warrant for manslaughter, which is a second degree felony.
Howard was transported to the Orange County Jail and his bond was set by Justice of the Peace Stagner at $500,000.
On Sunday, May 26, 2024, just after 5:30 p.m., the Vidor Police Department received a call about a reckless driver in a maroon Yukon traveling northbound in the 1400 block of North Main St.
At 5:40 p.m., the caller told dispatch that the Yukon had just struck another vehicle, head-on, in the 1500 block of North Main St.
When officers got there, they found both drivers unconscious. Officers realized that the driver of the vehicle that was traveling southbound, identified as Townsend, was not breathing.
Officers immediately removed her from the vehicle and initiated life-sustaining medical care.
Unfortunately, their efforts were not successful and Townsend was declared dead on the scene by Acadian Ambulance Service.
Justice of the Peace Rodney Price arrived to the scene and pronounced the victim deceased.
Police say the investigation revealed that Howard was traveling at "an excessive rate of speed" when he crossed into the southbound lane and struck Townsend's vehicle head-on.
Howard was transported to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in serious condition.
A toddler in Townsend's vehicle was restrained in a safety seat and was transported to Christus St. Elizabeth in a non life-threatening condition.
The collision was investigated by the Vidor PD Traffic Unit and Criminal Investigation Unit.
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