PORT ARTHUR, Texas — An 18-wheeler driver has died after colliding with another vehicle on Highway 73 and West Port Arthur Road Friday afternoon.
Port Arthur Police were dispatched to the area around 2 p.m. on Friday, June 9, 2023.
Preliminary investigation reveals that an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle collided, causing the 18-wheeler to overturn, which trapped the driver, according to a news release from the Port Arthur Police Department.
12News crew on scene says the driver of the semi had to be cut out the cab by first responders.
The driver of the 18-wheeler, now identified as 55-year-old Grady Stevens, was flown by helicopter to St. Elizabeth hospital in Beaumont.
The driver passenger vehicle was transported by EMS.
Stevens died as a result of his injuries. Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Precinct 8 Judge Tom Gillam III has ordered an autopsy.
The Port Arthur Police Department’s Advanced Accident Reconstruction Team responded and is investigating the accident, according to the release.
Highway 73 at West Port Arthur Road was shut down as police worked the wreck.
From a Port Arthur Police Department news release:
On today’s date at approximately 2pm, officers with the Port Arthur Police Department responded to a major motor vehicle accident in the 2000 block of W. Hwy 73. Preliminary investigation revealed that an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle collided, causing the 18-wheeler to overturn, trapping the driver. The driver of the 18- wheeler was air lifted for medical treatment and the driver of the passenger vehicle was transported by EMS for medical treatment. The driver of the 18-wheeler, identified as 55 year old Grady Stevens, died as a result of his injuries. The Port Arthur Police Department’s Advanced Accident Reconstruction Team responded and is investigating the accident.
RELATED: Police say speed played factor in wreck that killed 2, injured 3 along Texas 73 in Port Arthur
Earlier this week, two people died and three others were injured following a wreck in the same area of Highway 73 and West Port Arthur Road.
Just before midnight on June 5, 2023, a Dodge Charger and an 18-wheeler tank truck were involved in a wreck along eastbound Texas Highway 73 at West Port Arthur Rd, according to Jefferson County Precinct Seven Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett.
A semi-truck driver was traveling behind the Dodge Charger and failed to control their speed and struck the Charger, according to a news release from the Port Arthur Police Department.
Video from the scene shows the back end of the car crushed as well as the tanker turned over in the median of the highway.
An adult man and woman in the Charger died at the scene and a teenaged boy was taken by helicopter to a Houston hospital in critical condition Burnett told 12News.
Two other adults were taken by ambulance to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont but their condition is unknown at this time.
The truck driver did not appear to be injured Burnett said.
The four adults and teenaged boy in the Charger were all Cuban citizens and appeared to have been coming from an airport according to Burnett, who said they had airline tickets and luggage in the car with them.
The truck driver is a man in his 50s from Houston according to chief Timothy Duriso.
The accident investigation team from the Port Arthur Police Department is investigating the wreck Duriso said.
Two dead, 3 injured in Port Arthur wreck involving 18-wheeler
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.