Two killed in rear-end accident on US 59 in Cleveland

A rear-end accident around 8:30 p.m. Saturday ended in tragedy with the deaths of two sons of a Cleveland motel owner. The young men were riding in the back seat of the family’s vehicle, which was struck from behind by a van on US 59 in Cleveland.

According to Cleveland Police Chief Darrel Broussard, the preliminary investigation shows that traffic on the southbound side of US 59 was backed up due to an unrelated car fire that was already in progress near the SH 105 bypass further south.

“All traffic was stopped when a white Dodge Sprint commercial van owned by Gulf Coast Fiber Service, LLC, and driven by Cory Messer of Spring, Texas, struck the rear of a white Toyota passenger car, driven by local business owner, David Kumar,” Broussard said.

The van reportedly was being driven by Messer at a high rate of speed when it collided with Kumar’s vehicle, killing his 16-year-old son, who was in the right rear passenger seat, and severely injuring his 19-year-old son, who was sitting in the left rear seat. Kumar and his wife, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, were taken to HCA Hospital in Cleveland for non-life-threatening injuries and were later released.

The couple’s 19-year-old son was also transported to HCA Hospital in Cleveland where he was later pronounced dead from his injuries.

“The other vehicles involved in the accident received only minor damages and the occupants of those vehicles were not injured. The driver of the Dodge van was transported to HCA Hospital in Kingwood where he was later released,” Broussard said.

The investigation is ongoing and additional information may be released at a later date.

“Investigators are reviewing evidence and other witness statements about this accident. They will also be looking to see if there were any other possible distractions that may have caused the van’s driver to slam into the rear of the Toyota,” Broussard said.

The Kumar family own La Quinta Inn and Suites in Cleveland.

“Cleveland Police Department would like everyone to keep the Kumar family in their thoughts and prayers for the loss of their only children in this tragic accident,” Broussard said. “The Kumar family are strong community leaders and supporters in the Cleveland and East Montgomery County areas.”