Jenna Angelle, who graduated with Payne in 2008 from BCHS, woke up Tuesday morning to five missed calls and 10 text messages concerning the wreck.

"I thought I was dreaming," Angelle said. "It was a big shock. The news spread around Bridge City quickly. It is very sad. She was really sweet."

Nederland Police Chief Darrell Bush said the wreck happened about 11:30 p.m. Monday in the 1300 block of Helena Avenue. Branch was driving and Payne was a passenger in a 2006 Toyota Corolla that was traveling north on 14th Street. Preliminary investigation shows the driver of the Corolla failed to yield right of way at the intersection and was struck by a vehicle driven by a 24-year-old man from Nederland. His vehicle hit the driver's side of the Corolla.

The Corolla then struck a tree, spun around and landed some distance from the tree.

Justice of the Peace Vi McGinnis pronounced Branch dead at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth and Justice of the Peace Tom Gillam pronounced Payne dead at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas.

The accident is under investigation by the Nederland Police Department and the Department of Public Safety is assisting in the investigation.

Payne was the daughter of Bridge City Police Officer John Payne.

Funeral arrangements for Payne are spending with Claybar Funeral Home in Bridge City. No further information was available at press time.

Visitation for Branch will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Broussard’s Mortuary in Nederland. Services will be at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Nederland with burial in Laurel, Miss.

She is survived by her parents, Henry and Yvonne Branch of Nederland; and three brothers, Curtis Branch of Nederland, Wylie Branch of Fort Worth, and Jacob Branch of West Virginia.