Port Neches man killed in I-10 accident Friday

A Port Neches man was killed early Friday morning, Dec. 1, in a one-vehicle rollover accident on Interstate 10 in Gonzales County.

Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Ruben San Miguel said the accident happened at about 6:15 a.m. near the 643 mile marker on I-10. A 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Justin Dane Merritt, 37, was traveling west in the inside lane of I-10 when, for reasons still under investigation, his vehicle drifted into the center median as he failed to maintain a single lane.

Merritt overcorrected into the right lane and then struck an extruder terminal, which caused the vehicle to spin clockwise before going into a side spin into the center median, where it overturned multiple times.

Merritt was ejected from the vehicle, which came to rest on its wheels facing north on State Highway 304 below I-10. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

While lanes were closed at various locations, the roadway remained open as the incident was being investigated to accommodate traffic on the interstate, San Miguel said.

The victim’s next of kin has been notified. The accident remains under investigation at this time.