The Sabine Pass community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Caleb Burge, whose death has now raised the toll of Monday’s catastrophic Highway 87 crash to five. Family members, friends, and loved ones are grieving the loss of the 22-year-old as investigators continue working to determine what caused one of the region’s deadliest roadway tragedies in recent memory.
Officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that Caleb Burge died from injuries he sustained in the crash after being hospitalized at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital. His passing follows a devastating multi-vehicle collision involving a passenger van, a bus, and an Audi along Highway 87 in the Sabine Pass area.
According to investigators, the crash occurred at approximately 4 p.m. Preliminary findings indicate that a Chevrolet Express passenger van was traveling northwest when it crossed into the oncoming lane for reasons that remain under investigation. The van then collided head-on with a Prevost passenger bus traveling southeast. Moments later, an Audi traveling behind the bus struck the rear portion of the vehicle following the initial impact.
Authorities confirmed that four individuals were pronounced deceased at the scene. They were identified as the van’s driver, 28-year-old Cesar Rojas of Baytown, along with passengers Emmanuel Reynosa Rivas, 27, Angel Dominguez, 28, and Osvaldo Alvarez, 37. Caleb Burge later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, deepening the tragedy and intensifying the grief surrounding the incident.
Several additional victims were transported to nearby hospitals with injuries ranging from moderate to severe. Officials stated that some individuals have since been released, while others remain under medical care as they continue recovering from the traumatic collision. Among those injured were Raul Silberio Trujillo, 38, Rodolfo Garay Jr., 37, Fernando Rojas, 50, and Robert Zackery Sebastia Hoyt, 26. The bus driver, identified as a 48-year-old man from Vidor, and the Audi driver, a 28-year-old man from Rosharon, were also hospitalized.
The crash prompted a large emergency response involving law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and highway officials who remained at the scene for several hours assisting victims, documenting evidence, and clearing damaged vehicles from the roadway. Portions of Highway 87 were temporarily shut down during the investigation and cleanup efforts.
In a statement released following the incident, LNG officials confirmed the bus involved had been contracted through an EPC contractor and was empty at the time of the crash. The company also expressed condolences to the families affected and stated that it is cooperating fully with investigators.
As authorities continue piecing together the sequence of events, the Sabine Pass community remains united in grief, mourning the lives lost while praying for those still recovering from the devastating collision. Caleb Burge will be remembered with sorrow, love, and lasting remembrance by all who knew him.
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