PORT NECHES — A Port Neches-Groves High School junior and her mother, a local hair stylist, are dead after their vehicle was struck by a drunk driver Friday.

Karmen Nichole Dupuis, 17, and Rowena Frances Dupuis, 52, were in a 2000 Ford Focus when a 1987 Ford F-350 pickup truck ran the red light at the intersection of FM 366 and Merriman Street, striking the Dupuis’ vehicle and causing it to spin into traffic and hit a third vehicle. A fourth vehicle that was stopped at the light was also struck during the accident.

Port Neches Police Sgt. Billy Ponder said the driver of the truck, a man is his mid-20s, is in custody on charges of intoxicated manslaughter. Police are waiting to file formal charged with the district attorney early next week. An employee at the Jefferson County Jail released the name of the suspect; Colin Romero, 26, of Port Neches. Romero is being held on a $75,000 bond.

Ponder said the two victims were trapped in the vehicle for more than an hour and the Jaws of Life were used to remove the pair.

The two deaths have left the community in grief.

“I cannot tell you what wonderful child she (Karmen) was,” Kay Doucet, choir director at PN-G High School, said. “She had a positive attitude about everything, was in the top 2 percent of her class, a member of the Future Teachers of America club and active in her youth organization at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.”

The junior was scheduled to be an aide in Doucet’s class in the next year.

“She had just told me that at Thanksgiving her family had went to play putt-putt golf and an aunt persuaded Karmen’s father to play. He’s legally blind but made a hole in one,” the teacher said.

Doucet said she began receiving phone calls from her students Friday night who were upset over the news of their friend’s death. She anticipates that Monday will be tough for her and the students.

“I’ll probably cry along with them and love them and help them and in turn they will help me,” she said. “I lost my husband a year ago, I think that will help me help them through this.”

The students was part of a small choir consisting of 10 girls who were all very close, Doucet said. The teacher and her students have been preparing for a Christmas concert and will use a Power Point presentation showing pictures of the students through the years. Doucet has decided to leave Karmen Dupuis’ photos included, feeling that “Karmen would have wanted it that way.”

“Monday is going to be difficult,” she added.

Superintendent Lani Randall said preparations are being made to help students with their grief. Counselors and administrative staff at the school will be available for students Monday morning.

The mother and daughter were close and were often seen together, Tammy Mansveld, youth minister at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, said.

“The whole family are wonderful,” Mansveld said. “Humble people who would go out of their way to help others. No matter where you were, if you needed something they would find a way to help.”

Rose Garner of Nederland was shocked by the news of Rowena Dupuis’ death. The two had worked together in 2001 at Bonnie’s Hair Studio and were friends.

“She was one of those people when you meet them for the first time, they make you feel like you’ve known them a long time,” Garner said. “And she was hilarious, always making me laugh. Friendly, outgoing with a bubbly personality.”

A Christian vigil will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday at St. Elizabeth catholic Church in Port Neches. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Broussard’s Mortuary in Nederland is handling the arrangements.