Orange, TX - Louisiana Woman Killed in Pileup DUI Crash on I-10

Orange, TX (March 4, 2024) - A woman from Louisiana was killed following a multi-vehicle collision in the Orange area on Saturday night, March 2. The deadly accident occurred on Interstate 10 just before 6 p.m. Local reports indicated that a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck, a 2018 Mazda, and a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 were all headed eastbound at the time of the collision. 

The Mazda hit the rear of the Chevrolet, and the Silverado was hit again from behind by the GMC. The incident caused the Chevy to catch fire. A passenger in the Chevy suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The deceased party was later identified as 45-year-old Brandy Leon of Louisiana. The driver, 48-year-old Brant Leon of New Iberia, LA, was transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment of sustained injuries. The driver of the Mazda, 28-year-old Matthew Phoenix of Dallas, was taken into custody under charges of driving while intoxicated and manslaughter. An ongoing investigation into the cause of the deadly crash is in progress. 

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased victim at this time. Our thoughts are with the injured victim and their family in hopes of a full recovery. 

Deadly Drunk Driving Crashes in Texas

Drunk driving is widespread on Texas roads, and the state is one of the five states in the country with the most drunk driving crashes. Drinking and driving is never a good mix. It is extremely negligent and results in thousands of preventable deaths each year. 2021 was a particularly dark year for the state in terms of DUI collisions. That year, there were 5,261 drunk-driving crashes reported in Texas. These accidents resulted in 1,029 fatalities. That means someone was killed by a drunk driver on Texas roads almost every 8.5 hours. You need to have a trained lawyer by your side if a close family member is killed by a drunk driver. 

Following a fatal collision, families are frequently left to deal with mounting costs that they are not prepared to handle. It can seem daunting to deal with these losses on top of the despair you are probably going through, so you need to be sure you are ready to take the appropriate action to safeguard your rights at this trying time. This is often only possible when you work with an accomplished Texas personal injury attorney who has a track record of successfully assisting surviving family members in pursuing wrongful death claims.

A skilled lawyer at Rasansky Law Firm wants to help you pursue a successful case after a deadly crash. Our Orange personal injury lawyers want to do everything possible to make life a little bit easier during this difficult time. Contact our law offices today at 214-651-6100 to get started on your claim with the help of a qualified wrongful death attorney. Our legal team is here to answer any questions you may have during a free consultation.