Alexis Escalante, Joshua Hatfield ID’d as 2 People Injured in Austin Crash on U.S. Highway 59

Austin, Texas (June 2, 2019) – The two people who were injured Friday afternoon in a traffic accident involving an 18-wheeler in Austin have identified as Alexis Escalante, 22, of Nacogdoches, and Joshua Hatfield, 37, of Omaha, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The wreck took place at around noon Friday, May 31 on U.S. Highway 59 near the Angelina River bridge.

The DPS said a black SUV was near a complete stop in the left lane trying to make a U-turn to travel southbound when a 2015 Ford pickup slowed to avoid striking the SUV and was rear-ended by a 2013 Ford pickup.

A 2016 Toyota traveling behind the  2015Ford also failed to control speed and crashed into the 2013 Ford. As this happened, a 2009 Kenworth truck tractor semi-trailer took evasive action to the right to avoid hitting the Toyota and struck a 2012 Kenworth in the left side.

Escalante, who was the driver of the 2015 Ford, sustained unspecified injuries and was transported to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. Hatfield was also taken to the hospital in unknown condition.

The driver of the 2013 Ford, Corey Beahm, 24, of Nacogdoches, was unhurt in the crash. The 2009 Kenworth semi-trailer driver, Michael Pitcher, 46, of Katy and the 2012 Kenworth semi-trailer driver, Morgan Flint, 55, of Chireno, were both uninjured in the accident.

No details were about the driver of the SUV were immediately available.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.