Community Held Candlelight Vigil for UTV Crash Victims Friday Night; Funeral Services Set for Monday

A community candlelight vigil was held Friday night in Silsbee to honor the four members of the Smart family who tragically lost their lives in a UTV crash on July 25, 2025. The vigil also offered support and prayers for Kali Smart, 30, the sole survivor of the crash, who remains hospitalized in critical condition.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred around 11:35 p.m. on Farm-to-Market Road 92 near Jim Burns Road. A UTV carrying five family members pulled into the path of an oncoming tanker truck. The victims — Otis Smart, 46; Melissa Smart, 33; Triston “Hunter” Smart, 26; and Terry Wade Smart, 63, all of Kountze — were pronounced dead at the scene.

The tanker driver, a Houston resident, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. A secondary crash occurred when a Chevrolet Malibu drove through the crash site and struck a Hardin County patrol vehicle. The driver of the Malibu was hospitalized, while the deputy inside the unit was unharmed.

Friday night’s vigil took place at The Pines Theater in downtown Silsbee and drew friends, family, and members of the public. The gathering included moments of prayer, shared memories, and a tribute to the lives lost. Many attendees brought candles and stood in solidarity with the families impacted by the tragedy.

“In this unimaginable tragedy, Kali lost her husband, Hunter Smart, along with three of her close family members. So much of her world was taken in an instant,” reads a statement on the family’s GoFundMe page.

Kali Smart remains at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, where she has undergone multiple surgeries. Her family shared that while she is still in critical condition, she is stable.

Kali Smart, 30, remains in critical condition after the crash.

“Your kindness has lifted our spirits during this incredibly difficult time,” the family said.

Funeral services for the four victims will be held on Monday, August 4, 2025, in Lumberton and Silsbee, with visitation and burial details below.

Triston “Hunter” Smart, 26

Visitation: 10 a.m.

Funeral Service: 11 a.m.

Location: Parkway Life Church, 1865 South FM 3513, Lumberton

Burial: Holland Cemetery, Holland Cemetery Road, Kountze

Funeral Home: Broussard’s, Silsbee

Terry Wade Smart, 63

Visitation: 10 a.m.

Funeral Service: 11 a.m.

Location: Parkway Life Church, Lumberton

Burial: William Hart Cemetery, Highway 418 at US 96, Kountze

Funeral Home: Broussard’s, Silsbee

Otis Smart, 46

Visitation: 10 a.m.

Funeral Service: 11 a.m.

Location: Parkway Life Church, Lumberton

Burial: William Hart Cemetery, Highway 418 at US 96, Kountze

Funeral Home: Broussard’s, Silsbee

Melissa Smart, 33

Visitation: 1 p.m.

Funeral Service: 3 p.m.

Location: First Baptist Church Silsbee, 350 Hwy. 96 South, Silsbee

Burial: Cunningham Cemetery, FM 92, Silsbee

Funeral Home: Farmer Funeral Home, Silsbee

A GoFundMe page has been organized by Kali’s friends and family to assist with medical expenses, travel, and ongoing care.

In addition, the Melissa Crane Smart and Puddin Memorial Fund has been established by the Silsbee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Melissa’s family. The fund will support organizations she was passionate about and provide scholarships to local students.