Beaumont, Texas — A devastating crash in Beaumont has left a young mother dead and a 47-year-old man facing serious charges. Police have confirmed that Lajanara Lamont Stevenson was arrested early Sunday morning on a charge of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle after a fatal wreck claimed the life of 19-year-old Jasmine Batiste.
The crash happened in the early hours of September 14 when Beaumont police were called to the scene of a severe collision on the city’s north side. Responding officers and emergency crews found two vehicles heavily damaged and quickly discovered that a passenger, later identified as Batiste, had suffered critical injuries. Despite lifesaving efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say Stevenson was the driver at fault and showed signs of impairment. He was taken into custody at the scene and later booked into the Jefferson County Jail. Jail records confirm he faces a charge of intoxication manslaughter — one of the most serious offenses under Texas law related to impaired driving, carrying the possibility of up to 20 years in prison.
Police have not released further details about how the crash occurred but confirmed that alcohol is believed to have played a direct role. The case remains under active investigation as officials await full toxicology results.
Batiste’s death has left her family and friends in deep grief. Loved ones describe her as a bright young woman and devoted mother whose life was tragically cut short. Community members have taken to social media to share their heartbreak and demand justice, with many calling for greater awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.
“This is a senseless loss that should never have happened,” one relative wrote online. “Jasmine had her whole future ahead of her, and now her children will grow up without their mother because of one reckless choice.”
Authorities echoed the family’s calls for awareness, urging drivers to remember that there are always safe alternatives to getting behind the wheel while impaired. “Every intoxication-related crash is 100% preventable,” a Beaumont Police spokesperson said. “We urge our community to make responsible decisions. Too many lives have been lost to this.”
Stevenson is scheduled to appear before a magistrate for arraignment on Monday. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office will handle the prosecution as the investigation continues.
As Beaumont mourns the tragic loss of Jasmine Batiste, her story serves as another painful reminder of the devastating cost of impaired driving — a cost measured not only in legal charges but in lives and futures stolen far too soon.
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