Multiple killed in crash after police chase

EDNA (FOX 26) - Edna PD reports

1:29 a.m

A pursuit began at approximately 1:29 AM September 24, 2015 on US Hwy 59 in the city limits of Edna after Edna Police attempted to stop a 2003 Ford Explorer registered out of Corpus Christi for a traffic violation.  The vehicle fled North on Hwy 59 feeder.  The vehicle turned around at the dead end of the feeder road and proceeded to flee South on the Hwy 59 feeder, back into the City of Edna.  At one point the vehicle stopped, then took off again.  Police pursued the vehicle as it fled through town on Bus Hwy 59 and along some City Streets.  The vehicle turned back onto Hwy 59 NB at County Road 300.  Officers believe that the driver thought to take the Loop 521 exit, then at the last minute decided to continue on Hwy 59 North.  At approximately 1:37 AM the driver appeared to overcorrect and the vehicle left the roadway just north of the Loop 521 exit.  The vehicle rolled, or flipped, multiple times, ejecting a number of the occupants.  Four of the occupants were thrown from the vehicle and were pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Darren Stancik.  Three of the occupants were flown by life flight (1 by Herman Hospital, 2 by PHI).  Six of the occupants were taken by ground ambulance to the Jackson County Hospital.  Officers are trying to identify the driver and to determine if any of the occupants fled on foot after the crash.  Officers noted that the rear seat in the vehicle had been folded down and the middle seat had previously been removed, apparently to create more room in the vehicle.

Officials are still attempting to identify the crash victims.  Some of the victims have been identified as being from Honduras and Guatemala.

No other persons were injured in the one vehicle crash.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating the crash.   

6:45 a.m

The Texas Department of Public Safety- Five killed and eight injured

6:51 a.m

Edna PD reports 6 killed and 7 injured in Ford Explorer Crash on I-59. It is reported that there may be more that have fled the scene on foot

8:20 a.m

New details for Edna Crash:  The Medical Examiner's Office in Houston contacted Edna Police to report that two of the three persons who had been flown by air ambulance have died.
Additionally, with the assistance of a Texas Department of Corrections Search Team, two individuals who fled on foot from the vehicle were located and are now in custody.  It is unknown at this time if either of the two were driving the vehicle at the time of the crash.