Basic Facts
Crash date: July 7, 2026
Crash location: TX-105 at Tram Rd., Beaumont, TX
People involved:
- Steven Skinner, 41
- Chase Franklin, 33
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
July 7, 2026, Steven Skinner was killed and Chase Franklin was injured following a car accident at around 4:00 a.m. along Highway 105.
According to initial details about the accident, it took place along eastbound lanes of the highway near Tram Road.
Investigations said that 41-year-old Steven Skinner was in a Toyota going westbound. 33-year-old Chase Franklin was reportedly in an eastbound Chevy Colorado. Reports say that the two vehicles collided head-on.
Due to the crash, Steven Skinner sustained fatal injuries. Chase Franklin reportedly sustained unspecified injuries. At this time, the cause of the crash remains unconfirmed.
How Did This Accident Occur?
Oncoming vehicles colliding can happen for all kinds of reasons. Most commonly, it’s the result of someone being on their phone, falling asleep at the wheel, or losing control after going too fast. Those are important factors to consider here, for sure. However, investigations should be thorough enough to consider potentially unavoidable or unpredictable factors.
For example, were there objects in the road? Maybe something fell off a truck and was in the westbound lanes. Maybe debris caused a tire blowout or forced a driver to swerve. A careful analysis of the road in the area leading up to the point of impact isn’t always immediately accessible when authorities are prioritizing helping the victims and directing traffic safely while emergency crews work the scene. As such, it sometimes takes independent investigations to step in and preserve evidence while it’s still intact to make sure authorities don’t miss anything by dragging their feet or rushing through the investigations.
That’s just an example based on my experience with similar fatal crashes. Authorities may already be hard at work looking at this crash from all angles. My point is that as things move forward, victims and families involved in a serious crash should be aware of what authorities can and can’t answer. If it seems like the crash isn’t getting the attention it deserves, getting answers might require another set of eyes looking things over.
Did anyone see what happened here or pass by the scene after the crash? Let me know in the comments if you noticed anything worth sharing.
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