BEAUMONT, TX (05/16/2016) — A multi-vehicle accident on Monday claimed the life of Linda Renfro and left one man injured.
According to the Beaumont Police Department, 56-year-old Linda Ann Renfro died after falling off an overpass bridge at the intersection of Highway 69 and Chinn Road in Beaumont, Texas.
According to Sgt. James Guedry, at around 1:42 p.m., a red Chrysler minivan pulled onto the shoulder of the highway to fix a flat tire. As bystanders came to assist, a vehicle lost control and rear-ended a car behind the minivan.
The impact pushed Renfro and another person (a yet-to-be-named male) over the guardrail, where they fell approximately 14 feet.
The two victims were taken to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital, where Renfro later died. The man has been listed in stable condition.
“I think this sends out a message. If you have a flat, find a safe place to change it. On top of a bridge really isn’t a safe place, especially with this (rainy) weather,” Guedry said.
An investigation is ongoing.
Commentary
While stopping to change a tire on an overpass is never recommended, that doesn’t change the fact that this accident was caused by another driver. If you see a stalled vehicle on the side of the road, and especially if the driver is outside of their car, you should ALWAYS move to the far opposite lane. If you are unable to change lanes, slow down considerably—especially when the roads are wet. One little mistake could cause a fatal accident, and drivers should take every precaution to avoid a collision.
To those affected by this accident, we offer our condolences.
