Kemp man indicted in Morgan family deaths

2008-10-02 / Front Page

By Nathan Straus Statesman News

Navy Recruiter Jose Luis Joel Miramontes of Kemp was indicted by the Henderson County grand jury for the deaths of Shane and daughter Kalee Morgan of Berryville. The indictment came on Wednesday, September 24.

The deaths came as a result of an accident near Leagueville. It happened around eight miles south of Brownsboro at 4:45 pm on FM 317 the day before Valentine's Day. The Morgan family was traveling eastbound in their 2006 Suzuki Forenza, while Miramontes was heading westbound in a 2007 Chevrolet Impala, a government vehicle.

The accident occurred when Miramontes attempted to pass another westbound vehicle on the road. The posted speed limit at the crash site is 55 miles per hour.

According to police reports, the front left of the Impala struck the front left of the Forenza, and the collision ended in one of the worst possible ways. Shane's wife Lisa, a fourth grade teacher at Brownsboro Intermediate, and four-year-old daughter Emily survived the crash. Kalee was pronounced dead at the scene and Shane was care-flighted to ETMC Tyler along with Miramontes, where Shane Morgan passed away as a result of his injuries.

Shane was a pastor at Hilltop Baptist Church in Berryville and Kaylee was a student at BIS.

Miramontes is charged with recklessly operating his vehicle at a speed "greater than was reasonable and prudent under conditions".

The indictment states the vehicle was used as a deadly weapon, which may further the felony charge Miramontes now faces.

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