Alleged drunk driver kills East Texas couple

HENDERSON COUNTY — An East Texas couple that were expecting their first child together were killed in an alleged drunk driving crash Sunday, according to our news partner KETK. DPS said LeAnna Hester, 23, of Chandler, was traveling south on FM 315, near Coffee City, when she was struck head-on by Brandon Collins, 20, also of Chandler. Collins’ Dodge pickup crossed over the center line and hit Hester’s Dodge Neon head-on. Hester was pronounced dead at the scene. Blake Stanford, 24, of Chandler, who was in Hester’s car, was taken to University of Texas Health Hospital in Tyler, where he later died.

Stanford’s mother, Stephanie Pickett, who works are UT Health EMS, said her son Stanford was pronounced dead and that Hester was eight months pregnant when she was killed. Collins was taken to UT Health Hospital in Athens. The DPS report stated that Collins was arrested for intoxication manslaughter. Stanford’s family held an Honors Walk for Stanford Monday Night at UT Health in Tyler. Another memorial service will be held for both Hester, her baby and Stanford at The Carpenter’s Cross Baptist Church on November 14 at 3 p.m.