FINAL UPDATE: Multiple vehicle crash on I-10 closes eastbound lane, now reopened

Published 12:29 pm Thursday, April 4, 2019

FINAL UPDATE:

At approximately 11:30a.m., the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) received a report of a multiple vehicle crash on Interstate 10 in Orange County.  The crash occurred near mile marker 859.

Preliminary reports indicate that a 2018 Dodge pickup truck was traveling eastbound on Interstate 10 in Orange County.  The driver of the Dodge was traveling at an unsafe speed for the weather conditions, lost control and struck a prisoner transport van.  After the impact, the Dodge hit the inside concrete barrier and was then struck by a commercial motor vehicle.

The driver of the Dodge pickup truck, 50-year-old Albert Rutledge Jr. of Vidor, and the driver of the 18-wheeler were not injured in the crash.

The driver of the prisoner transport van, 37-year-old Serina Watts of Tennessee, was not injured.  However, the six (6) prisoners were transported to a local hospital to be evaluated as a precaution.

All eastbound traffic lanes of Interstate 10 were closed for approximately an hour, but have since reopened.

Rutledge was issued a traffic citation for unsafe speed.

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CRASH UPDATE:
U.S. Corrections Prisoner Transport Services maintains the security for all six  prisoners that were occupants on the transport van and will follow company protocol as it pertains to involvement in motor vehicle crashes.
Additional crash details will be released as information is confirmed.

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PRESS RELEASE – At approximately 11:30a.m., the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) received a report of a multiple vehicle crash on Interstate 10 in Orange County.  The crash occurred near mile marker 859.
DPS can confirm that the crash involves a commercial motor vehicle and a prisoner transport van.
There have been reports of minor injuries, but that information has not been confirmed..
All eastbound traffic lanes of Interstate 10 will remain closed for approximately an hour while vehicles are safely removed from the roadway.  Motorists are urged to use caution while traveling in the area and stay alert for stopped traffic.
All information is preliminary and additional details will be released as information is confirmed.