WOODVILLE – A major, multiple-vehicle crash on Thursday evening shut down traffic along US 69 in both directions, and resulted in multiple, severe injuries.
According to reports, the crash occurred at about 5 p.m. on the evening of Thursday, April 10, south of Woodville, and involved at least three vehicles, initially.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the initial findings are that a Dodge passenger car was struck by a Chevrolet pickup truck, head-on, which was northbound. Upon impact, the Dodge car veered into the oncoming lane and was struck by a Ford SUV that was southbound. The Ford went across the west side of the road, and struck another vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Tacoma, which was exiting a parking lot.
According to DPS, the driver of the Dodge, Maria Portillo, a Hillister woman, was transported to St. Elizabeth’s in Beaumont, with life-threatening injuries. A passenger, a 16-year-old female, was airlifted to Memorial Hermann for life-threatening injuries, as well.
The driver of the Chevrolet truck, Donnie Releford, of Doucette, and the driver of the Ford, Karina Dawson, of Chester, were also transported to a hospital nearby for reportedly minor injuries.
The driver of the Toyota, Hector Espino, of Chester, was taken to Tyler County Hospital, for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 69 were closed until about 7:40 p.m. when they reopened, as workers rescued those who were injured in the crash, and subsequently, cleared the roadway of wreckage and debris. First responders called in two medical helicopters to transport victims. Workers from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) diverted traffic.
