A multi-agency law enforcement pursuit on Sunday afternoon ended in a crash after a driver fled authorities during a welfare check, according to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said the incident began at approximately 1:39 p.m. on April 12, 2026, in Jefferson County, when a driver failed to stop for deputies attempting to conduct a welfare check. The driver then fled north, prompting a coordinated pursuit involving multiple agencies.
Law enforcement units from Silsbee Police and Jefferson County initiated the chase, which continued into Jasper County. At that point, troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Jasper County Sheriff’s deputies took over as lead units.
Authorities reported the suspect was driving a dark gray, late-model Jeep SUV. The vehicle traveled north along Highway 96 into Kirbyville before turning east onto Farm-to-Market Road 363, crossing into Newton County. The pursuit then continued north on Highway 87, where Newton County deputies joined the operation.
The chase came to an end when a Texas DPS trooper executed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver, causing the suspect vehicle to leave the roadway and collide with a tree. The impact left the vehicle totaled.
The driver was transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. No additional injuries have been reported.
Witnesses in Kirbyville say that at one point, there were 11 to 12 patrol cars chasing the suspect.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation. Charges against the driver are pending.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_4fb51909-6b98-4053-b601-3b77d6e0d811.html