Mother Dies, Children Injured In Crash

GRAND SALINE—A 36-year-old mother was killed in a single vehicle crash on US Highway 80 Saturday morning as she and her two children and another passenger were on their way to a cheerleading competition in Fort Worth.

Therese Jean Jones of Mineola was traveling westbound on US 80, three miles east of Grand Saline, in a 2003 Ford Expedition.

Department of Public Safety Trooper Edward Valdez said Jones, along with her front seat passenger 13-year-old Casi Jones were wearing a seat belt. Back seat passengers Rayla Jones, 14, and Cody Hamrick, 16, were not wearing seat belts.

"Several people actually witnessed the accident," Valdez said. "A witness driving behind the Expedition said she drove off and went right into the median."

Valdez said the vehicle left the roadway approximately 100 feet and flipped end over end several times before coming to a stop in the center median.

Casi Jones was able to crawl out of the vehicle, but Mrs. Jones and the back seat passengers had to be extracted from the Expedition, Valdez said.

"I think she may have thought she was closer to the truck beside her than she was and went to get away from it and lost control of her vehicle," Valdez said. "That probably is what is going to be the cause of this crash."

Valdez said Mrs. Jones was transported to Cozby-Germany Hospital in Grand Saline where she later died. Casi received several cuts. Both Rayla and Cody were transported by helicopter to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Rayla has internal injuries including a broken femur, and Cody received severe head trauma.

Valdez is planning to visit with the children involved in the crash, but says the accident is still under investigation.