TIVOLI, TEXAS: A pickup vehicle being driven by a pregnant woman from Louisiana struck a 12-foot alligator and flipped many times before coming to a stop, killing her and her unborn child in rural Texas early on Sunday morning, July 16. Gabrielle Breaux, 33, was traveling from Texas to her home in New Iberia, Louisiana, 20 miles south of Lafayette, when the accident happened, per the Daily
.
Gregory Gerard, 58, Breaux's father, and her three children, ages 13, 11, and six, were all with her at that time. Around 4 am, she hit the alligator on the road. She was driving a Chevy Silverado pickup truck 60 miles north of Corpus Christi close to the little community of Tivoli.
Who was Gabrielle Breaux?
Breaux, a car-wash employee, was seven months pregnant at the time of the accident. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt Rob Mallory, the vehicle "struck an alligator that was crossing the roadway." The vehicle overturned, skidded off the road, flipped many times before coming to a stop upside down. Breaux, her children and Gerard were all sent to the hospital. Breaux was transferred to DeTar Hospital in Victoria, which was 40 miles away from the crash site, but she died from her wounds there. Doctors were not able to save her unborn child.
'R I P my beautiful Gabbi'
Breaux's mother, Rena Hebert, announced the heart-wrenching tragedy and promised to care for the three children. "My daughter Gabrielle Breaux was headed back from Texas with her dad and her 3 kids and hit a huge alligator in the road causing the truck to flip multiple times. My beautiful Gabbi and her baby didn’t make it. Her other children sustained non life threatening injuries but has severe cuts and stitches and swelling. R I P my beautiful Gabbi," she said on Facebook, adding, "Mom loves you and I will take good care of your babies and my grandchildren." A friend shared a heartfelt tribute on social media as well and wrote, "My heart is completely broken Please say a prayer for her children and family Gabrielle Breaux I love you ma and I hope you Rest In Paradise." "RIP Gabby... Gabrielle Breaux you will surely be missed!!! Praying for your family and your babies!!!" wrote another.
