Vigils honor mother, two teens killed in Chambers County crash

Vigils are filling with candles and prayers for the four people killed in a Chambers County crash that left debris in a tree and investigators still piecing together how a Chrysler 300 ended up off FM 563 near Bay Lane.

The victims were identified as Kara Beagle, 37, her teenage children Markel and Makhia Beagle, and Jay'Shawn Godfrey, a friend of the family and the two teens. Authorities said the crash happened Friday, April 10, on FM 563 about 0.8 miles south of Interstate 10, and road closures were reported near Bay Lane as investigators worked the scene.

Investigators said the car was traveling at a high rate of speed before leaving the roadway and striking a tree. They also said the Chrysler 300 may have swerved across the road and vaulted from a nearby driveway before impact, with debris from the crash found lodged in the branches. Those details have sharpened the focus on speed, roadside conditions and whether anything about that stretch of road made the loss even more severe.

Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said the victims and the registered vehicle did not appear to be from Chambers County, adding another layer of shock for neighbors in the Liberty area who are now mourning a family they knew through school and community ties. The Texas Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation.

Two of the victims were current Liberty High School students, and Godfrey was a recent graduate. Liberty Independent School District said grief counselors would be available for students and staff as the school community absorbs the loss. Friends have gathered to support one another and remember the four lives cut short.

Among those grieving, Luke Porsche said, "It's hard because they touched a lot of souls." His words echoed what many in the Liberty area are now feeling as they turn from vigils to the harder questions of why the vehicle left the road, whether speed played the central role, and what could be done on FM 563 to keep another family from facing the same phone call.