LIBERTY COUNTY, TX- On Friday, May 10, around 11:20 a.m. Cleveland Police, Fire and EMS responded to a major automobile crash in the 100 block of East Crockett Street and found an elderly woman in a crashed vehicle. Her heart stopped soon after and medics administered CPR and transferred the woman to Texas Emergency Hospital ER, which was only a block away. She was pronounced dead a short time after arrival at the hospital.

Witnesses said the white Nissan was westbound on Crockett Street approaching Travis Street in downtown Cleveland when the vehicle suddenly veered to the right and slammed head-on into a parked commercial van, shoving it into another parked van. The two unoccupied vans were owned by Breech Early Learning Center Daycare, and sustained right side damage.

The witnesses ran to the lady immediately and began trying to help her, with EMS arriving soon after and rushing her to the ER. Despite the swift response by everyone, and having crashed so near a hospital, she still couldn’t be saved. Cleveland Police believe the victim may have been driving when she experienced a sudden medical emergency.

The driver was later identified as Patricia Anders Burkett, 71, of Cleveland.

Police Chief Broussard sends his deepest condolences to the family, on behalf of his entire department.