A weekend wreck in Hardin County has claimed the life of a Silsbee woman, 36-year old Laura
Whitfill was a passenger in a vehicle that was traveling north on Highway 96 just north of
Village Creek. The car she was in was first struck by a pickup that swerved onto the highway
after pulling onto the shoulder. The car was then struck by an 18-wheeler. She was pronounced
dead at the scene. The driver of the car, 41-year old Benjamin Whitfill was transported to the
hospital. The driver of the pickup, 75-year old Freddie Smith of Lumberton, was hospitalized.
The driver of the 18-wheeler, 50-year old Christopher Caraway of Silsbee, was not hurt.