Three former Texas high school students died in a fiery crash after leading a Milam County Deputy on a chase in Milam County on Friday.
The deputy had tried to stop the vehicle, and a chase ensued, Milam County Sheriff Mike Clore told Fox 7 Austin.
Phabian Bynaum, 19, Malik Thomas, 21, and Davarius Bynaum, 20, who were former students at Cameron High School, died in the crash, said Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Sgt. Bryan Washko, speaking to The Dallas Express.
The incident took place at approximately 3:49 p.m. on January 27, according to a press release.
The driver of the vehicle, Bynaum, was allegedly driving at a high rate of speed — more than 20 miles per hour over the limit, according to Milam County Sheriff Mike Clore, speaking to Fox 7 Austin.
Washko confirmed to The Dallas Express that a deputy had been attempting to pull the vehicle over.
“I know it was a traffic violation. I don’t know what it was for, whether it was for speeding or seatbelts, those things. I know when something like that happens, especially with another agency involved, we’ll bring in the state’s crash team to investigate the fatalities,” Washko said.
When Bynaum tried to pass another vehicle, he reportedly lost control of the car, hitting a tree and going through a fence before the car flipped and caught fire.
“There was a near collision with a vehicle when they passed to the right prior to when he lost control, but there were no other injuries involved or injuries to anybody. It was just the three individuals that perished together in the Challenger.”
The crash occurred on private property south of CR 337 on Hwy 36/US 190, according to the press release.
The vehicle was fully engulfed by fire.
“There were no other injuries, there’s no other property damage other than a fence line, and then they collided with the tree,” Washko said.
The Dallas Express reached out to Cameron High School for comment and additional information but did not receive a response by press time.
A vigil for the trio was held Friday, according to Fox News.
Counselors would be made available if any student needed to speak to them, according to Cameron Independent School District Superintendent Kevin Sprinkles.
Last year North Texas saw an increase in the number of police chases that occurred, as reported by The Dallas Express, and in November 2022, there were at least 10 alone.
In one such incident, Grand Prairie Police Officer Brandon Tsai lost his life chasing a suspect whose vehicle allegedly had an illegal paper tag.
