On July 24, 2023, a devastating crash occurred just north of Kilgore, resulting in the loss of two lives, according to a statement by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The victims were identified as Jonathan D. Pepper, 35, hailing from Kilgore, and Stacey L. King, 52, from Longview.
DPS Sgt. Adam Albritton provided the details of the incident, stating that DPS troopers received a distress call at approximately 6:15 a.m. on Monday, alerting them to a one-vehicle crash on Texas Highway 42, approximately half a mile north of Kilgore.
Based on the preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the accident involved a truck driven by Jonathan D. Pepper, which was heading southbound on Texas Highway 42. As the vehicle approached an upcoming curve in the roadway, it was allegedly traveling at an unsafe speed, causing it to veer off the road and subsequently overturn multiple times.
The impact of the rollover crash was severe, resulting in catastrophic injuries to both Pepper and his passenger, Stacey L. King. Despite the prompt response from authorities, the injuries sustained in the crash were fatal, and both men were pronounced dead at the scene by JP Bruce Dalme.
