PRESS RELEASE — At approximately 1:15p.m. on Sunday, the Texas Department of Public Safety responded to an eight  vehicle crash on Interstate 10 in Orange County.  The crash occurred on the Neches River Bridge.
A 2015 Chevrolet pickup truck was traveling westbound on Interstate 10 followed by a 2014 Ford Mustang.  The driver of the Chevrolet reduced his speed for stopped traffic and was rear-ended by the Ford.
A 2016 Toyota SUV, a 2006 Ford pickup truck, a 2014 Toyota passenger vehicle, a 2008 Chevrolet passenger vehicle and a 2016 Honda SUV were all traveling westbound on Interstate 10 and all came to a stop after the initial crash between the Chevrolet and the Mustang.  The driver of a 2007 Chevrolet pickup truck towing heavy equipment failed to control his speed and rear-ended the Honda SUV.  After colliding with the Honda, the vehicle’s momentum caused it to strike the Chevrolet passenger vehicle, the Toyota passenger vehicle, the Ford pickup truck and the Toyota SUV.  The impact between the Chevrolet pickup towing the heavy equipment and the Toyota SUV pushed the Toyota SUV into the Ford Mustang that was involved in the initial crash.
The driver of the Mustang, 18-year-old Shaeli Howell of Weatherford, and her passenger, Jewel West, 18, of Weatherford, were both transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth hospital.  Their injuries do not appear to be life threatening.
The driver of the Chevrolet pickup truck towing the heavy equipment was identified as 16-year-old Joseph Pavlicek of Needville, Texas.  Pavlicek was transported to St. Elizabeth hospital with unknown injuries.  The passenger, 61-year-old Crayden Bosak of Needville, was also transported to St. Elizabeth hospital with serious injuries.
All westbound traffic lanes of Interstate 10 were closed for approximately two (2) hours, but have since reopened.
The driver of the Mustang, Shaeli Howell, and the driver of the Chevrolet pickup truck, Joseph Pavlicek, were both issued a traffic citation for failure to control speed.