December 21, 2025 - Four people were injured in a crash just under a half-mile south of CR 2134 on State Highway 87 South December 19, 2025.
As a result of the incident, two people involved were life-flighted by ambulatory helicopter to Tyler, and two others were transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center by ambulance and private vehicle respectively.
Emergency personnel were alerted while en-route that both vehicles involved were on fire. Passers-by were quick to act, and rescued the occupants of one car from the fire while the other two were also freed from their vehicle.
Ambulances were able to transport those who were life-flighted to Ephesus Church where landing zones had been established, and the helicopters took turns landing there.
As medical personnel saw to the needs of those involved, Shelbyville and Huxley Volunteer firefighters worked diligently to extinguish the burning vehicles.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at approximately 5:45pm, a white 2026 Kia K-5 driven by a 16-year-old female driver with a teenage passenger was traveling southbound, went to pass in a no-passing-zone, and struck a black 2011 Ford F-150 pulling a 2003 utility trailer owned and operated by John Halstead, Jr, 62, of Shelbyville, who was also traveling with a 16-year-old male passenger.
Both vehicles struck head-on and came to rest on the northbound shoulder in a tree line. Passers-by pulled both females from the Kia as it erupted in flames and both vehicles caught on fire. All occupants made it clear of their vehicles. Both vehicles continued to burn until fire personnel were able to extinguish them.
The 16-year-old driver of the Kia was transported by ambulance to Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of her injuries. Her teenage passenger was life-flighted by helicopter to a hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. Halstead was flown by helicopter to a hospital to receive treatment for his injuries as well.
The male passenger from the Ford was transported by private vehicle to get treatment for his injuries at Shelby Emergency Department.
Further details about those involved in this incident are not yet available.
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies assisted at the scene and along with fire personnel and all emergency personnel cleared the scene around 7:45pm.
