BEAUMONT, Texas — Troopers have identified the victim of a nine-vehicle wreck that shut down Interstate 10 eastbound for more than five hours Saturday.
It happened around 5:45 p.m. Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chuck Havard told 12News. The driver of a 2019 International truck tractor semi-trailer was going east on Interstate 10 and traffic ahead was stalled, according to a Texas DPS release.
Troopers believe the driver of the semi reportedly failed to control his speed and hit the back of a 2018 BMW passenger car, according to the release.
The initial crash led to a chain reaction involving multiple vehicles including a 2013 Toyota SUV, a 2017 Cadillac SUV, a 2008 Toyota pickup, a 2021 Mustang passenger car, a 2012 Toyota passenger car, a 2016 Chevrolet passenger car and a 2013 Van Hool bus.
The driver of the semi was not injured. The driver of the BMW was taken to Memorial Hermann for treatment.
A passenger in the BMW was identified as 48-year-old Brandon Rogers of Texas City. Rogers was pronounced dead at the scene.
No other injuries were reported.
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From a Texas Department of Public Safety release:
JEFFERSON COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers are investigating a multiple vehicle fatal crash on Interstate Highway 10, near the 843-mile marker, that occurred Saturday, April 15, 2023.
The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 5:37 p.m., 2019 International truck tractor semi-trailer was traveling east. It is reported that traffic ahead was stalled due to heavy traffic flow and the driver of the truck tractor failed to control his speed and struck the rear of a 2018 BMW passenger car, which caused a chain reaction with multiple vehicles, including a 2013 Toyota SUV, a 2017 Cadillac SUV, a 2008 Toyota pickup, a 2021 Mustang passenger car, a 2012 Toyota passenger car, a 2016 Chevrolet passenger car and a 2013 Van Hool bus.
The driver of the truck tractor was not injured.
The driver of the BMW was transported to Memorial Hermann for treatment. Her passenger, identified as 48-year-old Brandon Rogers of Texas City, was pronounced deceased on scene by a Justice of the Peace.
There were no other injuries reported.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.