BEAUMONT, Texas — Beaumont Police are currently investigating a crash where an officer on a motorcycle was struck during a funeral procession.
It happened on Monday around 12:30 p.m., at the intersection of College Street and Pinchback Road. A preliminary investigation suggests that the driver of a red Ford F-150 attempted to cut through the procession and struck the motorcycle.
Father Andrew Moore said the officer was escorting the body of Father Luong Tran to his final resting place at the China Cemetery. Father Tran died on Monday, Nov. 22 from a pulmonary embolism.
Father Moore took to Facebook saying in part, “I was in the procession of cars, about ten cars away, and the crash was one of the most horrific things I have ever seen. I stopped to pray with the officer before they cleared the way for emergency vehicles.”
The officer was taken to a Beaumont-area hospital with serious injuries and is currently in the ICU following surgery. Doctors are optimistic that he will survive his injuries, Beaumont Police said.
Residents near the area where the accident happened said they were not surprised by it. One homeowner said the intersection is prone to crashes and extreme speeding.
“I've seen traffic think that this is the raceway, but Major Drive is the flag,” Sabrina Plafcan, Beaumont resident said.
Plafcan has lived on the corner of the intersection of College and Pinchback for two years. She said she has called police 10 times because of accidents.
“There's been a couple of times when the crashes have shaken my house, and that’s a large impact,” Plafcan said. “I came out the door one night in tears, figuring I was going to come and find somebody dead.”
Officer Carol Riley told 12News that things could have been worse.
“This one was a close call,” she said. “We're really thankful the officer is still with us.”
Officer Riley said drivers should understand there is reason people have their hazards on.
“It’s for safety purposes,” Riley said. “So, we ask that you pay attention when you’re driving. If you see a funeral procession, we ask that you stop and be courteous. Just remember that could be your family, and of course, we never want to see a situation like that.”
Beaumont Police told 12News the driver of the truck was not injured. At this time, it is unclear what charges if any they may face.
The wreck closed the westbound lanes of College Street for about an hour. This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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From a Beaumont Police Department release:
Officer Seriously Injured While Escorting a Funeral Procession – College at Pinchback General
Monday, November 29, 2021 at 12:14 P.M., Officers responded to a crash at College and Pinchback that involved a motorcycle and a red Ford F-150. The preliminary investigation revealed a Beaumont Police Officer was operating a motorcycle and escorting a funeral procession westbound in the 7000 block of College Street. The driver of the red Ford F-150 was traveling south on Pinchback, failed to yield the right of way, and continued south across the westbound lanes of College. This caused the collision with the Officer operating the motorcycle. The Officer was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the F-150 was not injured. The crash is still under investigation.