A Monday afternoon drive on South Gulfway Drive in Port Arthur turned deadly when a Hotard coach collided with a passenger van, killing at least four people, authorities said. Emergency crews, including medical helicopters, remained on scene for hours as they treated multiple patients and worked through the wreckage. Officials confirmed that all of those killed were inside the van.
Officials' initial account
The crash unfolded just after 4 p.m. on South Gulfway Drive, according to FOX 26 Houston. The Texas Department of Public Safety's public information officer said the collision involved a Hotard bus and a passenger van and confirmed that four van occupants had died. Investigators had not yet released the victims' identities or said who might be at fault.
Scene response and injuries
The crash occurred near the 3000 block of Gulfway, and Life Flight responded to the scene, with medical teams from Houston assisting, Click2Houston reported. The outlet said DPS troopers were handling the investigation at the site and that several patients were transported to hospitals for additional treatment.
Hotard Coaches and safety records
Hotard Coaches operates regional charter and contract bus services across the Gulf Coast. Federal records list the company’s USDOT number, fleet size and inspection history. That carrier information appears in the Federal Register and the FMCSA company snapshot, which provide publicly accessible filings and safety data for motor carriers.
Investigation underway
State troopers and crash reconstruction teams with DPS are leading the investigation and said they will release more details as they become available, FOX 26 Houston reported. Authorities have not yet discussed potential contributing factors such as speed, impairment or mechanical problems.
