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August 20, 2008

Police release names in Beaumont fatalities

By Darragh Doiron

BEAUMONT — The Beaumont Police Department has released the names of Samantha Bechtel of Lake Charles, 19, and Demetrie Dillard of Houston, 24, as the two victims of Tuesday’s fatal accident on Interstate 10 in Beaumont.

Multiple units were dispatched to the Interstate, in front of Johnny Carino’s restaurant, at about 3:30 p.m. Responding officers found the two dead inside a white Nissan 4-drive with Louisiana tags.

Initial investigations revealed that the two were westbound on the interstate when this vehicle suddenly veered across the median and struck a Toyota pick up traveling east on the interstate. The truck overturned and debris from the pick up then struck two other vehicles, causing minor damage. Emergency medical services transported the occupants of the truck to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital where they were listed in stable condition.

Beaumont Fire Department, Texas Department of Transportation, as well as numerous Beaumont Police Department units completely shut down the east bound lanes of the interstate for about two and one half hours. The west bound lanes were periodically shut down. 

Apparently, Bechtel and Dillard were enroute to Houston. The two female occupants of the truck, both Houston residents, were released from the hospital Tuesday night. 

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