Leanna Hester Killed and Blake Stanford Seriously Injured in Henderson County Two-Vehicle Crash on FM 315

Henderson County, Texas (October 27, 2020) – One person was killed, and another was seriously injured in a head-on collision early Sunday morning in Henderson County, according to a local news source.

The fatal crash happened on October 25, on Farm-to-Market Road 315.

DPS said Brandon Collins, 20, of Chandler, was driving a 2015 Chevrolet pickup southbound on the highway while Leanna Hester, 23, of Chandler, was driving a 2000 Dodge Neon northbound.

Collins crossed into the northbound lane and crashed head-on into the Neon.

Hester was pronounced dead at the scene.

Blake Stanford, 24, of Chandler, was taken to UT Health East Texas in Tyler with serious injuries.

Collins was taken to UT Health in Athens and was later booked into the Henderson County Jail. He has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter. His bond was set at $100,000 bond.

The crash remains under investigation.

We pass our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Leanna Hester.

In Texas, a driver is legally intoxicated after consuming alcohol if their blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08% or higher. A driver is also considered intoxicated if they don’t have the normal use of their mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol. Alcohol however is not the only intoxicant, as drivers can become intoxicated by ingesting prescription and illegal drugs such as crack, marijuana, and cocaine.

Regardless of what substance caused the driver’s reaction time to become significantly altered, intoxication by any means can cause terrible accidents and injuries.

Innocent victims harmed by drunk drivers are entitled to compensation for their injuries, including but not limited to medical expenses; lost wages; pain and suffering and mental anguish; physical impairment and disability; and most importantly, punitive damages to deter future conduct. If a death occurred because of a drunk driver, you will want a knowledgeable accident lawyer to bring a wrongful death action against the drunk driver.

To speak with one of our highly qualified lawyers at  Joel A. Gordon & Associates, Click to call: 281-943-5555.