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Motorcyclist, SUV driver killed in collision near Bridge City Thursday morning

The motorcyclist died at the scene and the driver of the SUV died at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital.

BRIDGE CITY, Texas — A Southeast Texas motorcyclist and another driver were killed Thursday morning in a wreck along Highway 87 near Bridge City.

William Wantuck, 46, of Orange, was pronounced dead on the scene by an Orange County justice of the peace according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

At about 6:30 a.m. Wantuck was riding north on Texas Highway 87 near Bridge City when a Dodge SUV, driven by Harley Laughlin, 32, of Buna, pulled onto the highway from Gaylynn Drive preliminary investigation showed according to the release.

The motorcycle then struck the SUV which then flipped over and came to rest on its roof.

Laughlin and a child passenger were taken by ambulance to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont for treatment. Laughlin was pronounced dead at the hospital.

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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.

Read the full news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety...

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is investigating a crash involving a motorcycle on state Highway 87, just north of SH 62, near Bridge City, that occurred this morning, May 19, 2022.

The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 6:30 a.m., a motorcycle was traveling north. It is reported that a Dodge SUV pulled onto SH 87 from Gaylynn Drive, and the motorcycle struck the SUV. 

The driver of the motorcycle was pronounced deceased on the scene by a Justice of the Peace. Their identity is not immediately available pending notification of their next of kin.

The driver of the SUV and one child passenger were transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. There was one other child passenger who was not injured. Their identities are not immediately available. 

This investigation is ongoing, and there is no additional information available at this time.

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