AT THE SCENE: CHARGED: Jason Youngblood (left), 32, of Fort Worth is arrested by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper. (Staff Photo By: Tom Worner)

CANTON - A collision resulting from what authorities describe as road rage on Interstate 20 Wednesday afternoon claimed the lives of two people, put two others in the hospital and sent a Fort Worth man to jail on two charges of criminal negligent homicide.

Jason Youngblood, 32, Fort Worth, was arrested Wednesday on the two homicide counts and another felony count of failure to stop and render aid, after he reportedly forced a vehicle from the eastbound lanes into the oncoming westbound traffic, where it was struck by an SUV.

The three-vehicle accident happened about 2 p.m. about 8 miles west of Canton at mile marker 521 on Interstate 20 and tied up westbound traffic for several hours as Texas Department of Public Safety troopers reconstructed the scene.

Trooper Jason Matura said the accident was a "classic case of road rage."

"From all the eyewitness statements and from the suspect's own admission, this was nothing more than road rage. His negligence and this senseless act contributed to the deaths of two people," he said.

Killed in the accident were Al-Shamshad Sunbarni, 37, and her daughter, Tooba Sunbarni, 13, both of Dallas.

Matura said Mrs. Sunbarni's son, Raheel Sunbarni, 17, is listed in critical condition at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Colbey Gateley, 5, of Canton, a passenger in the SUV, was in good condition in a Terrell hospital.

ACCIDENT SCENE

At the scene, the late-model Toyota Camry rested on its roof, the rear of the vehicle peeled away.

Matura said the deceased were passengers in the back seat area, but that the driver, Shahroz Ali, 24, Dallas, was not injured.

Matura said Ms. Ali was traveling eastbound on I-20 when Youngblood approached her vehicle at a high rate of speed.

"He became agitated that she was traveling in the fast lane and he could not pass. He was tailgating her right on the bumper of her car," he said.

Matura said Youngblood then made the decision to pass Ms. Ali's vehicle on the right, but pulled up even with the vehicle and started making remarks to the Indian nationals.

"The story is complicated here, but eyewitnesses said Youngblood was looking at the other vehicle and was mouthing. He then made the decision to cut them off, but mis-judged the distance," he said.

Matura said Youngblood's Chevrolet minivan, also occupied by his wife and four children, all under 8 years old, clipped Ms. Ali's vehicle and sent it across the median.

The Toyota then was hit in the rear by a Chevrolet Tahoe traveling westbound.

ARRESTED IN CANTON

Youngblood then fled the scene of the accident and headed east to Canton, but an eyewitness to the accident followed him.

Matura said the witness called 911 and told authorities in Van Zandt County the make and model of the vehicle, along with the license plate number.

"He left the scene and was finally taken into custody in Canton at a gas station. He told people there he was in an accident, but before he could leave the gas station, Canton police took him into custody and brought him back to the scene," he said.

Standing on the side of the road with the accident and a traffic jam as the backdrop, Matura told Youngblood to place his hands behind his back.

"I am placing you under arrest for murder. Do you understand this?" Matura said. Youngblood shook his head as troopers looked on, shaking their own heads at the accident.

Mrs. Sunbarni's husband arrived at the accident scene a short time later and was visibly distraught.

The trooper said 17-year-old Raheel Sunbarni was taken by helicopter to ETMC in Tyler. Colbey Gateley was taken to a Terrell hospital by ambulance.

ARRAIGNMENT SET

Youngblood is scheduled to be arraigned by Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Ronnie Daniell at 9 a.m. Thursday in the Van Zandt Criminal Justice Center in Canton. Criminal negligent homicide is a state-jail felony punishable with up to two years (only two years???!!!) of confinement upon conviction.

Failure to stop and render aid in an accident involving serious bodily injury or death is a third-degree felony, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

"This is just senseless. Two people are dead and two are injured because of this," Matura said.

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