Three teens dead, five injured in Lamar County crash
LAMAR COUNTY -- Three teens are dead and five others are injured after a rollover accident in Lamar County.
"It's so unreal, like, you don't even know what happened," said Madie Warren, a classmate of the passengers.
Troopers say around 1am Sunday, a 2006 Chevrolet pickup carrying eight teenage passengers crashed one mile east of the town of Chicota, killing the driver and two others.
Texas Department of Public Safety says the driver was heading westbound on F.M. 906 and right after he passed the Pat Mayse Dam, he lost control of the vehicle, hit a tree and rolled several times.
Trooper Mark Tackett tells KTEN 18 year old Robert Russell, who was driving the truck and 19 year olds Colbie Miller and Bailee Sims were pronounced dead at the scene. Classmates brought flowers to the crash site.
"Bailee, she always was joking, making us laugh," said Aliana Mobley, the passenger's classmate, "Colbie, she was very nice and she always had a good heart about everything."
Trooper Tackett says the remaining five passengers were sent to area hospitals for treatment.
One 18 year old male was in critical condition. He was flown to the Plano Medical Center.
Troopers say speed was a factor, but they're still investigating to determine if alcohol was involved. Friends tell us they found out through a text message early this morning.
"Shock," said Mobley. "I couldn't believe it."
Warren and Mobley say they never thought this nightmare would become a reality for them.
"It can always be you," said Warren. "You need to take precaution and look out for yourself."
Trooper Tackett told KTEN that the teen who were killed were not wearing seatbelts.