LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas – Three people were killed in a head-on crash Wednesday night in Liberty County, according to authorities.
The two-vehicle crash happened around 7 p.m. near the intersection of FM 163 and County Road 2282, officials said.
Authorities said a family of five was in a Dodge Avenger when the car and a Chevy Tahoe collided. Driving the car was 24-year-old Brianna Henson. Inside the car was her 4-year-old daughter Lilly; as well as her sister Jessee, who just turned 16 on Monday; her 16-year-old sister Jordan, who turns 17, next week, and her father, 57-year-old Mark Henson.
Driving the Tahoe was 82-year-old George Woodrome of Cleveland.
DPS troopers said Brianna Henson's sister Jessee, her daughter Lilly and her father Mark Henson did not survive the crash.
Crash in Liberty County devastated the Henson family. Pictured (left->right) is Mark Henson, 57 - Lilly (granddaughter), 4 - Jessee (daughter), 16 - Jordan (daughter), 16 - Lilly - Brianna (daughter & mother of Lilly), 24 -- Mark , Jessee & Lilly passed away @KPRC2 More at 6 pic.twitter.com/nHsne7gRmj
— KPRC2 Rose-Ann Aragon (@KPRC2RoseAnn) January 24, 2019
Authorities said Woodrome is in stable condition at a hospital. Brianna Henson is in serious condition and her sister Jordan Henson is in critical condition.
According to the Department of Public Safety, the 4-year-old, Lilly, was in a child safety seat, but several others weren't wearing seat belts.
Pastor Bobby Trayal was leading a Bible study Wednesday night at CrossWay Community Fellowship Church, where the Hensons attended. Other family members said the victims were on their way to Bible study when the crash happened. The family was just six miles away, and 15 minutes from when the Bible study was set to begin.
Trayal said he drove Brianna Henson's mother to the hospital to see Jordan.
"Stayed there with them until family members arrived," Trayal said. "We love them. We will be there for them."
The family said they were so grateful for all that Trayal has done to help.
"Whatever they need, our church family is going to be there for them," Trayal said.
The church is holding a vigil 7 p.m. Thursday at the CrossWays Community Fellowship Church.
Neighbor David Long said the family had recently moved to Tarkington from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
"That was a good family and they got a lot going for them over there," Long said. "They got a lot of horses. They love to ride horses. They would come through here riding those horses almost every day."
Long said Lilly enjoyed playing with his dog, Ginger.
"She was a little doll. Very smart," Long said.
Tarkington ISD Superintendent Dr. Marc Keith confirmed Jessee and Jordan Henson were students at Tarkington High School.
Keith said the school has additional counselors working with the students Thursday, and they will remain for as long as students or faculty need.
"In a school setting, it's a little bit more emotional because for students, it may be their first time to deal with something like this," Keith said. "At times like this, that's what we do, we just lift each other up and we help each other through this tragic event."
Keith said neighboring Cleveland ISD and Dayton ISD contacted him to show their support.
District leaders made an announcement about the crash at the schools Thursday. They're preparing to post a statement on their website and Facebook. Leaders are also sending letters home with students.
At Tarkington High School, students are remembering Jessee and sending their thoughts and prayers for Jordan. Officials said counselors were at the school today.
"They made an announcement [saying that] the counselors are going to be here for everybody, and if you're sad, go ahead and go to the counselors. They didn't care if you laid your head down or if you just needed to have someone to talk to," said student Kelsey Isbell.
Community members have set up a GoFundMe page to help the family with funeral and medical costs.
