A pedestrian was killed early Friday morning, Feb. 21, after being struck by a pickup truck while walking along FM 770 in Daisetta.
According to Sgt. Rob Willoughby, the accident occurred around 1:45 a.m. near Peach St.
Paula Renee Trahan, 58, of Daisetta, was walking along the southbound shoulder, possibly heading to a nearby convenience store, when she was hit.
Willoughby said a 2004 Chevy Silverado was traveling northbound on FM 770 when, for an unknown reason, the driver lost control, causing the truck to skid into the southbound shoulder, where it struck Trahan, killing her. The driver then fled the scene.
Authorities were able to obtain video footage showing the crash, including the moment Trahan was struck and the truck’s direction of travel. “We were able to determine the direction of travel through skid marks and evidence at the scene, and we could tell it was a Chevrolet, a regular cab Chevrolet pickup truck,” Willoughby said.
Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies began searching the area for the vehicle. Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy Collier and Cpl. Katrina Johnston located it at a residence. The truck was determined to belong to 22-year-old David Joseph Jordan of Daisetta.
Jordan was arrested and charged with Failure to Stop and Give Information Resulting in Death, a charge in the same penalty group as Intoxicated Manslaughter, according to Willoughby.
“We are charging him with the highest charge we can apply. We’re still discussing other charges with the DA’s office,” he said, adding that it is believed that alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.
FM 770 was closed for several hours while authorities investigated the crash. The investigation was led by Trooper Corey Prantil with the Texas Department of Public Safety, with assistance from DPS Cpl. Godfrey and Willoughby. The Texas Rangers also assisted in the death investigation, along with Daisetta Police Department and Liberty County ESD #2.
Willoughby expressed gratitude to all first responders who assisted in the case.
“I want to give a special thanks to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and Daisetta Police Department. We are very, very fortunate to have a community where all the agencies work together so well. We were able to utilize all the resources we had to bring this case to a quick conclusion with the arrest of a suspect,” he said, adding that he hopes this will bring some comfort to Trahan’s family.
In these type of incidents the word “accident” should not be used. The perpetrators made the decision to leave the scene of the crime. That’s not a accident.
I wonder if he is the same one who hit my son and left the scene in August
The Hit and run killing of Fred Arceneaux and Mike Glenn in Raywood is still unsolved.