Driver charged in multi-vehicle Orange County wreck that killed two Wednesday morning

The interstate reopened at about 10:30 a.m. after being closed for about five hours.

Author: Scott Eslinger

Published: 7:47 AM CDT October 30, 2019, Updated: 2:43 PM CDT October 30, 2019

ORANGE, Texas — Two Mississippi men were killed Wednesday morning in a multi-vehicle wreck along Interstate 10 in Orange County that closed all westbound lanes for about five hours. A Vidor man was arrested and charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter in connection with the wreck.

Troopers were notified around 5 a.m. about the wreck near Adams Bayou according to a release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Westbound traffic was already stopped due to a previous wreck when Jesse Griffin, 29, failed to stop in time and struck several stopped vehicles according to the release.

Troopers say he was driving a GMC pickup truck.

Griffin “failed to control his speed” according to the release.

Two people in the second vehicle struck by the pick up were pronounced dead at the scene by Orange County Precinct Four Justice of the Peace Rodney Price. They have been identified as 40-year-old Vernon Morris of Mississippi, and the passenger, 45-year-old Alvin Beck also of Mississippi.

All westbound lanes of the interstate were closed until almost 10:30 a.m.

Six vehicles, two of which have major damage, appeared to be involved in the wreck.

This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.

2:30 p.m. update:
At approximately 5:00a.m., the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers responded to a six (6) vehicle crash on Interstate 10, near Adams Bayou, in Orange County.

The preliminary DPS crash investigation indicates that westbound traffic on the Interstate was stopped due to an earlier crash. The driver of a GMC pickup truck was traveling westbound on IH-10, failed to control his speed and sideswiped a Hyundai passenger vehicle. The GMC then rear-ended a Ford pickup truck which caused a chain-reaction crash involving three (3) additional vehicles.

The driver of the Ford, 40-year-old Vernon Morris of Mississippi, and the passenger, 45-year-old Alvin Beck also of Mississippi, were both pronounced deceased by Justice of the Peace Rodney Price at the scene.

The drivers of all other vehicles were not seriously injured, but were transported to local hospitals for observation.

At the crash scene, Troopers observed several signs of intoxication exhibited by the driver of the GMC pickup truck. Troopers conducted an investigation and found the driver to be intoxicated. At that time, 29-year-old Jesse Griffin of Vidor, was placed under arrest and charged with intoxication manslaughter. Griffin was medically cleared before he was transported to the Orange County jail. He has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter.

All westbound traffic lanes were closed for several hours, but have since reopened to traffic.

All information is preliminary as Troopers continue to investigate this fatal crash. There are no additional details available at this time.

CRASH UPDATE: At approximately 5:00a.m., the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers responded to a multiple vehicle crash on Interstate 10, near Adams Bayou, in Orange County.

The preliminary DPS crash investigation indicates that westbound traffic on Interstate 10 was stopped due to a wreck. The driver of a GMC pickup truck, traveling westbound, failed to control speed and struck several of the stopped vehicles.

DPS can confirm that two (2) people have been pronounced deceased by Justice of the Peace Rodney Price. The deceased victims were in the second vehicle struck by the GMC pickup truck.

This is an ongoing crash investigation and additional details will be released as information is confirmed.

TRAFFIC UPDATE:

All westbound traffic lanes of Interstate 10, near Adams Bayou, are closed due to multiple vehicle crash. Traffic is being diverted at the Simmons Drive exit . Motorists are urged to find an alternate travel route. Expect delays.

At approximately 5:00a.m., the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a multiple vehicle crash on Interstate 10, near Adams Bayou, in Orange County.

ORIGINAL RELEASE: DPS Troopers and other medical personnel are on the scene, but details are extremely limited. Injuries have been reported, but the extent of those injuries is unknown at this time.

Multiple westbound traffic lanes on Interstate 10 are closed. Motorists are urged to find an alternate travel route. Expect delays.

Additional information will be released as information is confirmed