A Look at the Fatal Rear-End Collision on FM 1442 in Bridge City, TX

Michael GrossmanJanuary 16, 2025 2 minutes

A rear-end collision on FM 1442 in Bridge City Monday night left one man dead and another hospitalized. According to police, 43-year-old Andre Calmelet of Beaumont was driving a 2014 Ford F-150 eastbound when it struck the rear of a 2025 Tesla driven by a 38-year-old man from Orange.

The impact sent the Tesla into a ditch on the south side of the road, while Calmelet’s pickup overturned and came to rest in the north ditch after striking a concrete culvert. Calmelet was pronounced dead at the scene, despite efforts by officers and bystanders to revive him. The Tesla driver was transported to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

When I hear about crashes like this, I think about the importance of understanding whether mechanical issues or other preventable factors contributed to the collision. Currently, there isn’t a lot of information about a potential cause.

Could Mechanical Issues Have Played a Role?

One critical question is whether the pickup truck had any mechanical problems that contributed to the crash. Faulty brakes, worn tires, or other maintenance issues could have made it difficult for the truck to stop in time to avoid the collision.

Given the pickup’s trajectory into the ditch and its eventual rollover, investigators should also consider whether issues with the steering system or suspension affected the driver’s ability to control the vehicle after the initial impact.

What Evidence Should Be Looked at By Investigators?

To better understand what led to this collision, investigators should analyze the data from the Tesla’s and the Ford’s Engine Control Module (ECM). It could offer some insights into the truck’s speed and braking before the collision. Additionally, skid marks or other physical evidence at the scene can help establish how quickly the vehicles were traveling.

Why These Questions Matter

This crash resulted in the loss of life and left another person hospitalized, making it essential to uncover all contributing factors. Understanding whether mechanical issues or other preventable factors played a role will help investigators determine why the crash happened.

In my experience, rear-end collisions like this often reveal critical details during investigations that can help those affected better understand what happened and why. Thorough analysis is the only way to get the full picture.