Four college students of Stephen F. Austin State University were involved in a fatal crash early Monday morning in Nacogdoches, killing three and critically injuring one.

Details of the Fatal Accident

According to police, 20-year-old student Chase Scruggs was driving east on Starr Avenue around 1:30 am with three passengers when his 2007 Dodge Charger went off the road, striking several trees on the way. The vehicle then caught fire and burned.

A second vehicle behind the Charger pulled up behind not long after, and someone called 911 at that time.

KXXV-TV reported that Scruggs, of Seabrook, along with two of his three passengers, Rajeen “Ray” Williams, 21, of Burleson, and Geena Zarick, 18, of Flower Mound, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The third passenger, Trent Haynes, 21, of Red Oak was taken to a local hospital under critical condition.

Police continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

Texas Auto Accident Statistics

The following information was provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT):

• 3,534 people were killed in auto accidents in Texas in 2014, marking a 3.7-percent increase over the 3,408 deaths reported in 2013.
• 1,384 of the 2014 deaths were attributed to single vehicle accidents.
• An additional 237,941 people were injured in auto accident in 2014.
• On average, TxDOT estimates a reportable crash occurred in Texas every 66 seconds in 2014.