At about 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, first responders in Hopkins County responded to a multi-vehicle accident on SH 19, near CR 4764, just south of Birthright, killing four and left seven others injured.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 60-year-old Gerald Lee Adams, of Paris, was driving a Ford E Series van north on Highway 19. An uninvolved vehicle in front of Adams used the shoulder to pass a Toyota Avalons (2007 Toyota Avalon, driven by Rebecca Goodson, 69, of Sulphur Springs, and a 1998 Toyota Avalon, driven by Celestino Reina, 60) that were stopped, attempting to turn left onto CR 4764.
Texas DPS officials say Adams “failed to control his speed and struck the rear Avalon,” pushing it into Highway 19’s southbound lane. The Avalon then collided with two other vehicles (a 2023 Cadillac Escalade and a 2014 Kia Soul) that were traveling south.
The Avalon that was pushed into Highway 19’s southbound lane carried Celestino Reina, 60; Celia Reina, 60; Maria Reina, 22; and Dariul Rodriguez, 7. All from Sulphur Springs, and all pronounced dead at the scene.
Adams’ vehicle also struck the front Avalon, leaving most of the vehicles in Highway 19’s west bar ditch, according to DPS. Adams was left uninjured.
Goodson was transferred to a hospital, where she was determined to have non-incapacitating injuries. Goodson’s passenger, Joyce Moore, 72, also of Sulphur Springs, was hospitalized with serious injuries but is reportedly stable.
Those in the 2023 Cadillac Escalade – Brian Feiden, 47; Elizabeth Feiden, 51; Randal Adams, 23; Cole Feiden, 17; and Gwenyth Feiden, 23 – were transported to a hospital in Sulphur Springs with non-incapacitating injuries.
In the Kia Soul were Terry Williams, 69, of Sulphur Springs, and Debbie Dixson-Williams, 53, of Tyler. The two were transported to a hospital in Sulphur Springs, also with non-incapacitating injuries.
The crash is still being investigated by Texas DPS.
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