A driver was seriously injured in a Wednesday morning fiery crash in southeast Jasper County. It happened shortly before 8:00 on Highway 62, south of Buna.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant Richard Standifer in Houston, 18-year-old Justin White, of the Call Community, was driving a 2019 Dodge truck northbound when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel. His truck drifted into the southbound lane where it hit a trailer hauling creosote poles and being pulled by an electrical line crew work truck. The collision sheared the tandem wheels from the trailer and caused the Dodge truck to catch on fire.
Jasper County Deputy Karli Cherry said motorists stopped and pulled White from his burning truck, saving his life.
White was flown by medical helicopter to St Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont.
Sergeant Standifer noted that a third vehicle was involved. It was a 2022 Dodge Challenger that was following the work truck and it hit debris after the initial accident resulting in damage.
EDITOR'S NOTE: AN EARLIER REPORT FROM KJAS SAID THE LINE TRUCK WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE JASPER NEWTON ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE AS REPORTED BY A JASPER COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY. HOWEVER, WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT WAS NOT TRUE AND THAT THE LINE TRUCK WAS NOT CONNECTED WITH THE JNEC IN ANY WAY.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_fab5b808-f1d9-11ee-9423-a719f505c973.html