A three-vehicle crash on Saturday near Cherokee County Road 1409 between Jacksonville and New Summerfield claimed the lives of four Palestine men.
The accident occurred just before 8 a.m. when a Chevy Impala heading south on U.S. 79 swerved into the northbound lane, sideswiping a blazer before crashing head-on into an 18-wheeler.
All four occupants of the Impala were pronounced dead on the scene. They were identified as Michael Estrada, the driver; Christian Chavez; Saul Mancera and Jaime Benitez. The victims were in their early to mid-20s and had Palestine driver’s licenses.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said the four were on their way home from a trip to Shreveport. Alcohol may have been involved but extreme fatigue was the most likely cause of the accident, officials said.
No other injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.