Tragedies in Chambers County … Speed Kills

By Gloria Way

  Investigations are still underway on two separate automobile crashes that killed five people Friday night, April 10^th, in Chambers County. Early reports indicate that high speed was a factor in both accidents.

   DPS investigators said the first crash happened about 7 p.m. on FM 563 just south of Interstate 10. A driver in a 2005 Chrysler 300 was traveling north when the car may have swerved across the road at a high rate of speed. The car apparently vaulted from a nearby driveway before striking a tree. Debris from the crash, including a windowpane, was found lodged in the branches.

  All four passengers in the vehicle were killed. The driver was Kara Beagle of Liberty. Her two teenage children, Markel and Makhia Beagle, were killed and a family friend, Jay’Shawn Godfrey, was also killed. Markel and Makhia were students at Liberty High School while Godfrey was a recent graduate.

  The speed limit on that stretch of FM 563 is 65 miles per hour, but the severity of the damage suggests the vehicle was traveling significantly faster at the time of impact. Investigators state there were no skid marks which indicate the driver may not have braked before leaving the roadway. They are examining the vehicle’s event data recorder, the “black box”, to determine the exact speed and whether any mechanical issues or drive distraction played a role. Toxicology results for Kara Beagle are pending, though investigators have not suggested impairment as a factor at this time.

  Funeral arrangements have not been made public at the time of printing deadline.

  A GoFundMe campaign to support the families of all four victims can be found by searching “Liberty FM 563 Crash Memorial Fund” on the GoFundMe website. Donations will be split equally among the families to cover funeral and memorial expenses.

  The second crash happened in Winnie about 8:45 p.m. DPS said a minor driving a 2011 Nissan Rogue was traveling south on First Street at an unsafe speed, disregarded a stop sign, left the roadway, and struck a solid fixture. The driver has been identified as Lance Barron, a student at East Chambers Junior High School. His passenger was treated for minor injuries and released.

  Lance Barron’s mother, Mindy, works at The Arboretum in Winnie. Kayla Kiker, administrator of The Arboretum, has established accounts to help the Barron family with expenses. Check out https://cash.app/$Kaykik2020 or https://venmo.com/u/Kayla-Tose.

  A gathering of Lance’s family and friends will begin at 1:00 p.m. with his funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Broussard’s, 134 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie. His cremation arrangements will be handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.