On the same weekend that three other fatal accidents took place in North Texas, a head-on collision claimed the lives of a father and his two young children. Also on the same weekend, three other fatal accidents took place.
He was pronounced dead at the scene after a three-vehicle collision in Van Alstyne on Saturday, May 17 caused the father’s Chevrolet Silverado to catch fire, according to reports from NBC affiliate KXAS, CBS News, and FOX affiliate KDFW. Tommy Moorehead III, a 41-year-old man from Leonard, and his two children, who were later identified by a family friend as his daughter, Lynnlee, who was six years old, and his son, Tommy Jr., who was four years old, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Rocky Patterson, 63 years old, was driving a Dodge 3500 when he attempted to pass a Toyota Tacoma in a no-passing zone on Farm-to-Market Road 3133, according to KXAS. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to the accident at around 12:30 p.m. local time. The incident occurred on Farm-to-Market Road 3133. Patterson, on the other hand, struck Tommy’s Silverado head-on, which resulted in the fire.
According to the Department of Public Safety, Patterson then struck the Tacoma. The guy who was driving the Tacoma, who is 74 years old and has not been identified, was hurt and received medical treatment at the site, according to CBS News. Patterson received medical attention at a nearby hospital after being relocated there. Patterson is now being charged with three counts of manslaughter, which is a felony of the second degree, according to the records of the Grayson County Jail. Patterson was jailed the following day. He has a total bond amount of three million dollars. However, it is not known if Patterson is represented by an attorney.
In response to PEOPLE’s requests for comment, the Department of Public Safety and Grayson County Judge Bruce Dawsey did not immediately answer. Given that the Department of Public Safety is in charge of the current investigation, the Van Alstyne Police Department was unable to give any further information.
Brooke Mustard Moorehead, who is the widow of Tommy, is going through a “unimaginable tragedy” now that her “entire family” has passed away, according to a friend who commented on a GoFundMe page to provide financial assistance for burial expenses.
“In a single instant, Brooke lost everything,” the buddy who works with Brooke noted in the written communication.
“Tommy was a devoted husband and father, a kind soul who worked hard and loved his family with his whole heart,” added the organizer, who did not immediately reply to PEOPLE’s request for comment. “He loved his family with his whole heart.” “Lynnlee was brimming with life, pleasure, and curiosity. During this time, Little Tommy Jr. was just starting out on his adventure through the world. He was constantly smiling and full of love.
The Moorehead family is not the only one forced to deal with the aftermath of an events that cannot be explained.
During the same weekend, there were three distinct accidents that occurred on highways in north Texas, which resulted in the deaths of six individuals. One of these accidents included a motorist who was traveling the wrong way, which resulted in the deaths of two people in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 18.