Basic Facts

Crash date: May 25, 2026

Crash location: U.S. Highway 96 near County Road 296 south of Jasper, TX

People involved:

  • James Pedigo, 66
  • Debra Pedigo, 65
  • Carolyn Brewster, 79

Do authorities suspect alcohol played a role in this crash? Unknown

Did authorities recommend criminal charges? Unknown

Do authorities suspect a product defect caused the crash? Unknown

Accident Report

Jasper County, TX — May 25, 2026, James Pedigo and Carolyn Brewster were killed and Dera Pedigo was injured in a car accident at about 2 p.m. on U.S. Highway 96.

Authorities said a northbound Volkswagen SUV and a southbound Dodge pickup collided near County Road 296/Old Kirbyville Highway south of Jasper.

A passenger in the Dodge, 66-year-old Weatherford resident James Pedigo, and Volkswagen driver Carolyn Brewster, 79, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

The Dodge driver, 65-year-old Debra Pedigo, was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Jasper County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

How Did This Accident Occur?

Head-on crashes like this usually occur because one vehicle moved out of its lane. It isn’t clear which one in this instance. Was one driver distracted by a cell phone? Was one vehicle trying to pass another vehicle? Did one of these vehicles have an issue with its steering mechanism? I don’t claim to know the answer to these questions, but more than 30 years of working on crash investigations has taught me that it is best to wait until the investigation is complete before coming to any conclusions.

Authorities will find some answers by poring over physical evidence, witness statements, data from the vehicles and any available video footage of the crash. Cell phone records may show what each driver was doing at the time of the crash, but an outside expert likely will be needed if investigators suspect a mechanical issue contributed to this accident.

A forensic examination will be necessary to diagnose a mechanical issue with one of these vehicles, but in my experience most law enforcement agencies don’t have the time or training for such inspections.

This kind of investigation is necessary so those grieving this crash will not have any lingering questions about what happened on U.S. 96.

Did you witness this accident? Let us know what you saw in the comments.

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