Suspect Charged with 3rd Intoxication Manslaughter Charge

RUSK COUNTY — A third charge of intoxication manslaughter has been brought against an East Texas woman who reportedly killed two young children and their mother in a Kilgore crash on Loop 259 near Dudley Road. Authorities say the woman was driving in the wrong direction, possibly drunk. According to KETK, a third manslaughter charge was filed against Shelby Taylor, 22, of Henderson, Tuesday mornin. Officials claim she was behind the wheel during the fatal crash. Her bond for the new charge was set at $250,000, which brings the total bond to $751,000.

Taylor was also facing a revocation charge stemming from a 2013 DWI in which she was out on bond for multiples charges, but Judge Chad Dean ruled against the revocation of bond. She can now be released if bond is posted.

Kilgore police stated they were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash at 1:00 last Thursday morning after receiving a 911 call. Responding officers arrived and found two children, a five-year-old boy named Rudra Patel, and a 12-year-old girl named Trisha Patel, deceased and their mother, Heena Patel, 43, unconscious. The father, Ketanbhai Patel, 42, who was driving, was moving about, but was in a daze. The family was from Caldwell, Texas. The parents were taken to a local hospital. Heena died after succumbing to her injures on Friday. Kentanbhai was treated and released.

After determining the crash was outside city limits, the Department of Public Safety took control of the crash investigation.

According to DPS, an oil field truck, driven by Shelby, was headed southbound in the northbound lane of 259 near the Gregg and Rusk County when it collided with a van. Trooper Jean Dark stated Kentanbhai attempted to avoid the crash, but he was not able to dodge the truck in time. Shelby also had a passenger in the truck with her who has been identified as Sarah Furlong, 21.

Preliminary investigations revealed the children and mother were possibly not wearing seat belts and sleeping in the back of the van. KPD stated the family was from Central Texas traveling north.

According to Rusk County Jail records, this is not Shelby’s first run-in with officials having been arrested previously for assault causing bodily injury/family violence,February 13, 2010. Assault causing bodily injury,October 13, 2010. Burglary of a building, January 14, 2011. Driving while intoxicated, October 12, 2013.