PRESS RELEASE — At approximately 11:00a.m., on Sunday, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) received a report of a possible hit-and-run crash that occurred in Beaumont.

A Dodge pickup truck was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 in Beaumont.  The Dodge was struck from behind by a Ford pickup truck.  The driver of the Ford did not stop and continued eastbound on Interstate 10 into Orange County.  The driver of the vehicle that was struck followed the Ford pickup into Orange County and made contact with Orange County Troopers.

Troopers found the truck with a blown tire on  the access road of the Interstate near FM 1442.  Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued eastbound on the access road.  The driver stopped his vehicle on the access road of the Interstate at Highway 62 where Troopers conducted a traffic stop.

Due to the erratic behaviors exhibited by the driver and his confused behavior, troopers placed him under arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated.  Due to the unusual  demeanor of the driver, Troopers took the driver, 70-year-old Finis Taylor of Houston, to Baptist hospital in Orange for medical observation.

At this time, this is an ongoing criminal investigation and all information is preliminary.  However, Troopers suspect that the driver’s medical condition may have contributed to his erratic driving behaviors.

The initial crash that occurred between the Dodge pickup truck and the Ford resulted in less than a $1,000 worth of damage; therefore, the incident was a non-reportable crash.

There are no further details to be released.