The Bridge City Police Department has provided further details about a fatal crash on January 13, which resulted in the death of a Beaumont man. The crash occurred around 10 p.m. on West Roundbunch Road, in the 1300 block of FM 1442, when a 2014 Ford F-150 pickup collided with a 2025 Tesla.
Responding officers arrived at the scene to find the Tesla, driven by 38-year-old Ross Sellers from Orange, resting in the south ditch. Sellers was transported to CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile, the pickup truck had overturned onto its driver’s side in the north ditch. The driver of the truck, 43-year-old Andre Calmelet from Beaumont, was still inside the vehicle. Despite efforts from police and bystanders to extricate him and administer CPR, Calmelet was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that both vehicles were traveling east on FM 1442 when the Ford F-150 struck the rear of the Tesla. The force of the impact caused both vehicles to leave the road. The Ford F-150 then veered off the road into the north ditch, where the front end of the truck collided with a concrete culvert.
Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Hershel Stagner has ordered an autopsy to determine the official cause of death. Authorities have yet to release further details about the circumstances leading to the collision, but the crash remains under investigation.
While both drivers were heading in the same direction, the exact factors that led to the crash are still unclear. This tragic incident highlights the dangers of driving at night and underscores the importance of remaining vigilant on the roads, especially in areas with frequent traffic.
The Bridge City community has been deeply impacted by this tragedy, and both the family of Andre Calmelet and Ross Sellers are left grappling with the aftermath. Investigators continue their work, and updates may follow as more details become available.