A truck driver was killed in a Newton County crash late Monday afternoon. It happened shortly before 4:00 on Highway 63 a few miles east of Burkeville.
The driver has been identified as 41-year-old Josette Blasdel, of Leesville. She was the mother of four children.
Marks on the highway indicated that the 18-wheeler was traveling eastbound when it overturned and slid off the highway and the truck hit a large pine tree.
Blasdel was ejected from the cab and her body was between the truck and the trailer.
The Texas Department of Public Safety later released a statement, which said that a preliminary investigation revealed that the accident occurred when a tire blew out.
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