LA MARQUE, Texas — A deadly crash is under investigation after police in La Marque said an SUV flew off the Gulf Freeway and landed on the feeder road below.
Several ambulances were called to the crash on I-45 near FM 1765 around 11:30 p.m. Monday.
According to police, they believe several passengers, if not everyone in the SUV, were ejected during the crash. The 26-year-old woman driving the SUV, identified as Mersaydez Jenkins, was going down the Gulf Freeway when she hit the center wall. Investigators said she tried to overcorrect when the SUV then went off the freeway.
Jenkins was ejected from the SUV and died at the scene. Her four children, a 7-year-old, 6-year-old and two 3-year-olds, were all seriously hurt and rushed to UTMB Health by ambulance in critical condition. On Wednesday, the Galveston County Sheriff's Office said two of them had been upgraded to guarded condition.
Authorities haven't said what led up to the deadly crash but did mention no other vehicles were involved.
Investigators believe Jenkins was speeding before she lost control and hit the center wall.
Meanwhile, lifelong residents in La Marque, including a woman who's lived in the area for more than 30 years, shared their growing concerns about the stretch of I-45 where the crash happened.
The woman said since construction started to widen the Gulf Freeway, the narrow lanes have been a major safety issue.
"It's just not safe. There's no lighting out here at night," she said. "If you don't know this area...I've been telling my mom since they started it, they need to hurry up and finish because it's dangerous."
Another resident said she's seen wreck after wreck since construction began. The Galveston County Sheriff's Office confirmed they've seen an uptick in the number of crashes in the area. Authorities said there are no shoulders and that the lanes are close together, so it can be dangerous for those who are unfamiliar with that stretch of highway.
The Galveston County Sheriff's Office is still investigating.