One Child Dead, One Man Critical after Friday Night Wreck

TYLER � The Texas Department of Public Safety says a nine-year-old girl died at the scene and an East Texas man was critically injured in a one-vehicle wreck that backed up traffic for hours. Troopers also say three other children and a 37-year-old woman were injured in the mishap, which happened around 11 Friday night on Highway 31 East near Smith County Road 233. The DPS told KETK Saturday that five people were ejected from the vehicle after it rolled over.

Troopers said John Bates, 38, was driving west in his SUV when he tried to pass another car on the shoulder. The DPS says he swerved off the road, hit a tree, and landed about 30 feet below, in a creek. Bates remained in critical condition at last report. The mother, an 11-month-old boy, an 11-year-old girl, and a 14-year-old girl were listed in stable condition. None of the children were wearing seatbelts at the time of the wreck, and the 11-month-old was not in a car seat. The names of the children and the mother were not immediately released.