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Crash photo by Jerome Cabeen
Saying the matter is now with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Beaumont police have handed over their investigation into the local billionaire accused of crashing into five other cars at the intersection of Dowlen Road and Gladys Avenue.
According to an Aug. 11, finalized crash report signed by Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Deputy Director George Villarreal, investigators anticipate a potential “intoxication assault” charge for the 65-year-old Beaumont business tycoon, Walter “Loddie” Naymola.
As first reported by The Examiner July 1, investigators listed Naymola as the “Unit 1” driver who crumpled five cars and sent eight victims to the hospital from a smattering of collisions at the busy intersection June 22.
Although first responders took eight people to the hospital following the incident, BPD revealed that there weren’t any major injuries among victims in the crash where Naymola’s truck – literally – flew into a flock of vehicles.
A pair of Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Reports – dated June 22 and 23 and obtained by The Examiner – list “Unit 1” as a blue 2021 Dodge Ram 1500, with a license plate reading “4HORN.” The reports further identify the driver of the vehicle as Naymola, who is listed as founder and CEO of 4-Horn Investments LP on the company’s website.
Naymola actually began his intersection barrelling at the corner of Phelan Boulevard and Dowlen Road, according to the first of two reports – this one dated the same day of the wreck. The report states, “Unit No. 1 was westbound in the 6400 block of Phelan. It left the roadway and struck some trees, shrubs and a sprinkler system. It then traversed through the parking lot and then onto the street in the 300 block of Dowlen Rd.
“It crossed the two lanes of traffic before striking a metal light pole. The witness stated to dispatch that the blue Ram bearing TXLP 4HORN was last seen traveling north on Dowlen toward Parkdale Mall.”
The report says he fled from that series of collisions before crashing again near Dowlen and Gladys – this time, into multiple motorists.
The Jefferson County District Attorney’s office told The Examiner in June it would “treat this case like any other and will file charges as necessary.”