UPDATE: DPS Releases Identity and Cause in Fatal Newton County Crash

This article is an update to a story originally published on June 16, 2025.

Photo Courtesy of East End VFD.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has released the identity of the driver who died in the Monday afternoon crash. The victim has been identified as 41-year-old Josette Blasdel of Leesville, Louisiana.

According to a Tuesday morning DPS news release, Blasdel was traveling eastbound on Highway 63 at approximately 3:45 p.m. when the rear driver’s side tire of her 18-wheeler blew out. The vehicle veered off the right side of the roadway and collided with a tree.

Blasdel was pronounced dead at the scene by a Newton County Justice of the Peace. A passenger in the truck was not injured, according to authorities.

The Burkeville Volunteer Fire Department was first on scene and requested mutual aid from East End Volunteer Fire Department, which responded with two engines, one brush truck, and five personnel. East End assisted with Jaws of Life extrication and traffic control during the emergency response.

Other agencies assisting at the scene included:

• Texas Department of Public Safety

• Newton County Sheriff’s Office

• Texas Department of Transportation

• Jasper Exxon Towing & Recovery

• Allegiance Mobile Health – Jasper EMS

Around 4:30 p.m., the Newton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that State Highway 63 was shut down in the area near 2060 Highway 63 East, west of Burkeville. The closure remained in effect for several hours as emergency crews conducted cleanup and investigation.