Two-Vehicle Crash on FM 600 Claims Life, Injures Three in Jones County

A fatal collision occurred early Tuesday morning on Farm to Market Road 600 (FM 600) in Jones County,  leaving one person dead and three others injured. The crash, which occurred at 6:21 a.m., involved two 2017 Jeep models traveling in opposite directions on the highway, which has a posted speed limit of 70 mph.

Incident Overview
According to initial reports, the collision happened 0.12 miles south of County Road 303. A 2017 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Stephen Severne Hughes, 38, of Abilene, was traveling southbound when it was struck by a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Darion Mark Little, 25, of Stafford. The Grand Cherokee was traveling northbound but allegedly attempted to pass another vehicle in a marked no-passing zone before veering into the southbound lane and colliding with the Wrangler.

Marsai Jaealla Denise Malbro, 21, a front-right passenger in Little’s vehicle and a resident of Humble, Texas, died at the scene. Her sibling, Bryce Deon Malbro, 19, also of Humble, sustained critical injuries and was transported to Hendrick North Hospital. Hughes and Little were both taken to the same facility with incapacitating injuries. Seatbelt status was reported as "unknown" for Hughes and Bryce Malbro, while both Little and the deceased passenger were wearing seatbelts at the time of impact.

Conditions & Investigation
The crash occurred under clear, dry weather conditions, with no reported obstacles on the road. Jones County Sheriff’s Office officials have not yet identified a primary cause but confirmed the Jeep Grand Cherokee was in an illegal passing zone during the collision.

"In incidents like this, adherence to traffic laws is critical," said a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office. "Drivers must avoid passing in restricted zones, as these actions can lead to tragic consequences."

Victim Details

Safety Reminders
Authorities emphasized the importance of seatbelt use, noting that both survivors were restrained while the deceased victim was not. "Seatbelts significantly increase your chances of surviving a crash," the spokesperson added.

Next Steps
Investigation into the crash is ongoing, with law enforcement working to determine fault and release further details. Families of the victims have been notified.

This is a developing story. Additional updates will follow as information becomes available.