UPDATE: The identity of the victim in Wednesday’s crash is John Wesley Pillow, 39, of Cleveland. The truck Pillow was driving was confirmed as stolen out of Florida, which complicated getting his identity confirmed sooner.
ORIGINAL STORY: A two-vehicle crash around 1 p.m. Wednesday on the SH 105 bypass in Cleveland resulted in one death, according to Capt. Scott Felts, spokesperson for Cleveland Police Department.
“A red pickup truck was traveling east on the SH 105 bypass. As he crossed over US 59 and proceeded east, he veered into the oncoming path of an 18-wheeler, which was fully loaded,” Felts said.
The 18-wheeler was engulfed in flames when Cleveland firefighters arrived on the scene. The driver of the 18-wheeler escaped the wreckage and was not critically injured. The driver of the red Chevy Silverado was killed upon impact.
The crash was so intense that the engine of the pickup truck was found down the embankment where the truck came to a halt.
The identity of the deceased is not available at this time. Pct. 6 Justice of the Peace Ralph Fuller made the pronouncement of death and ordered an autopsy. Neal Funeral Home was dispatched to take the man’s body to Beaumont for autopsy.
The accident shut down the SH 105 bypass for several hours while Texas Department of Public Safety troopers investigated the crash. As of 5 p.m., the roadway was still closed. Smith Towing removed the vehicles from the scene.
By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com
