NEW BOSTON, TX (08/11/2016) — A Thursday evening accident involving several vehicles claimed the life of Heather Higgs and injured several others.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Heather Vanessa Higgs was killed in a six-vehicle pile-up on Interstate 30 just outside of Texarkana, Texas.
The DPS reported that at around 5:40 p.m., traffic was slowing down to a complete stop due to a previous accident. The driver of an 18-wheeler did not stop in time and collided with a passenger vehicle, driven by Higgs, near the 200 mile marker.
As a result of this impact, Higgs’ vehicle was pushed into the rear of another 18-wheeler, and Higgs’ vehicle caught fire.
“Both vehicles were engulfed in flames soon after the collision,” said Sgt. Sylvia Jennings, a DPS spokeswoman.
Officials stated that while on fire, the first 18-wheeler continued traveling on the right shoulder of the highway, and struck another passenger car.
An explosion of one of the 18-wheelers erupted after the crashes, causing additional vehicles to sustain damage.
At this time, Higgs is the only victim who has been identified.
The DPS is currently investigating this accident.
Commentary
The DPS has limited details at this time, therefore, which charges will be filed (if any) are unknown at the moment. However, we do suspect that the driver of the first 18-wheeler may face criminal liability for this incident (as well as civil liability for Higgs’ wrongful death). As information becomes available, we will provide updates.
To those affected by this tragic accident, we offer our condolences.
