Shelley Gene Jewell Obituary, Death – A 66-year-old woman tragically lost her life in a head-on collision early Saturday morning in Montague County, Texas. According to a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Shelley Gene Jewell of Gainesville was pronounced dead at the scene after sustaining severe injuries in the crash. The incident occurred at 5:23 a.m. on U.S. Highway 81 near Fruitland Road.
The initial investigation by the DPS revealed that Jewell was driving a 2013 Kia Soul southbound in the northbound lanes of the highway when the collision occurred. At the same time, a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by 39-year-old Jose Noe Vences from Dallas, was traveling northbound. The two vehicles collided head-on, with the Kia Soul continuing into the center median, where it eventually came to a stop. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Tahoe rolled onto its top and came to rest across both northbound lanes of the highway.
Following the crash, Vences and a 12-year-old girl, who was a passenger in the Tahoe, were both transported to Medical City Decatur for treatment of non-incapacitating injuries. Other passengers in the Tahoe, 42-year-old Maria Tinico, also from Dallas, and a 6-year-old boy, did not suffer any injuries. According to the DPS, all the passengers in the Chevrolet Tahoe were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, while Jewell, the driver of the Kia Soul, was not.
Despite dry road conditions, the collision resulted in significant damage to both vehicles. The DPS is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. The identities of the minor passengers in the Tahoe were not released, as it is the policy of the DPS to withhold the names of minors involved in traffic incidents.
As authorities continue to gather details about the crash, this tragedy underscores the importance of seatbelt usage, which likely contributed to the safety of the passengers in the Tahoe. The investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing, and further updates are expected as more information becomes available.