ORANGE COUNTY — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has identified a man who died after falling from the Neches River Bridge as Pierre Moise Patin, 52, of Lake Charles, La.

Patin died after climbing over the bridge railing following a multi-vehicle wreck on Saturday.

OCSO received a call about the vehicle wreck in the westbound lane of the Neches River Bridge on Interstate-10 at about 5:15 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

Officials learned a green Geo Metro had stalled on the bridge in the outside lane of travel. A blue Toyota van was traveling westbound and slowed to avoid striking the Geo and stopped behind the vehicle to avoid a collision at which time a Chevrolet struck the van form behind causing a crash, according to a press release from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Both people inside the Toyota van decided to get out of the vehicle because they didn’t feel safe as they thought their vehicle would be struck again due to traffic conditions.

The passenger of the van climbed out of the vehicle and climbed over the railing and jumped to the adjacent bridge structure, which was only a few feet away.

The driver of the Chevrolet jumped over the railing to the adjacent bridge as well for safety.

The driver of the van attempted to jump over the gap in the bridges but was unsuccessful and fell 40 to 50 feet onto the ground below.

Beaumont Fire Department and Beaumont EMS responded to the scene. Pierre Moise Patin, 52, of Lake Charles, La. succumbed to his injuries from the fall.

Orange County Justice of the Peace David Peck was contacted and pronounced Patin dead at the scene.

Shavers Transport Company responded to the scene and brought the victim to Vidor Memorial Funeral Home until funeral arrangements can be made.

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