Update: The decedents involved in this crash have been identified as Margarita Bottello and Yazmin Villagomez Martinez both adults of Kaufman, Texas. The driver of the at-fault vehicle has been identified as Royce Freebourn, a 61 years of age resident of Heath, Texas. Freebourn is being charged with two counts of Texas Penal Code 49.08 Intoxication Manslaughter, a second-degree felony offense.
The Texas Department of Public Safety assisted with the on-scene investigation.
Emergency services assistance was provided by the Forney Fire Department, CareFlite,
Kaufman County Sheriff’s Department, Kaufman County Constable’s Office Precinct 2,
and the Texas Department of Transportation.
This case remains under investigation by the Forney Police Department and Texas
Department of Public Safety. At this time, it is anticipated that the roadway will be open
around 4:30pm.
On January 20, 2020 at approximately 10:50am, the Forney Police Department received reports of a major crash on the eastbound US 80 service road at the Gateway Boulevard bridge. Preliminary information from a witness indicates that a vehicle traveling east on the service road ran the stop sign and collided with another vehicle traveling north on Gateway Boulevard in the intersection. At this time, there are two confirmed fatalities. Identification of the fatalities is pending notification of next of kin.
Another person was transported to an area hospital with what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing. The intersection of Gateway Boulevard and the service road of US 80 will be closed while the investigation is completed. There are no traffic impacts on the main lanes of US 80 highway.
If anyone has any additional information about this or any other incident, please contact the Forney Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 972-564-7607. You can also leave information anonymously at Kaufman County Crime Stoppers at 877-847- 7522 or at http://kaufmancountycrimestoppers.org/ and if that information leads to an arrest, a reward could be granted to the caller.
The Forney Police Department will be holding a press conference at 3pm.
This is a developing story. We will update this as information becomes available.
