6 Killed as SUV Hits Big Rig

MESQUITE, Texas — A sport-utility vehicle smashed into a flatbed tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder of an interstate Monday, killing a woman and five of her children, authorities said.

Relatives said the family left a reunion in Beaumont, about 230 miles southeast of the Dallas suburb of Mesquite, about 2 a.m., Fire Department spokesman Mark Noble said.

Killed were Cheryle Joubert, 35; Krystal, 14; Israel Jr., 13; Timothy, 12; Jordan, 7; and Candace, 5. The father and driver, Israel Lane Joubert, 35, was in serious condition, Noble said. A sixth child, Aaron, 10, was in critical condition and lost over 90% of his liver, he said.

The accident occurred about 8 a.m. in a rural area about 20 miles east of Dallas, where the drivers of two 18-wheelers were looking over one of the trucks after it malfunctioned. The SUV struck the back of the trailer of the second truck.

Both trucks were parked legally, Police Sgt. William Artesi said.