Updated July 2 at 7 a.m. with additional information: An earlier version of this story cited Texas DPS reporting six deaths, but the agency has since revised the total to five. This story has been updated to include the identities of the five confirmed victims.
Five people are dead and several others injured in North Texas after the driver of an 18-wheeler allegedly fell asleep at the wheel on Interstate 20, where traffic had stalled following an earlier crash near Terrell on Saturday afternoon.
Three 18-wheelers and four passenger cars were involved in the crash when the suspect fell asleep and crashed into multiple vehicles, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni, 27, was arrested on five counts of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the fatal crash on the westbound lanes of I-20 near the Hiram Road bridge, according to the department.
‘Mass casualty’ pileup in Kaufman County shut down I-20 for hours
Reports say Gonzalez-Companioni’s semi-truck struck a 2018 Ford F-150, which was carrying five family members.
Authorities have released the identities of the four who died at the scene: Billy McKellar, 79; Zabar McKellar, 52; Krishaun McKellar, 45; and Kason McKellar, 16. Kason’s sister, Evan, survived the crash and was transported to a hospital by helicopter, where she remains in critical condition, according to NBC News.
Gonzalez-Companioni’s vehicle also reportedly made contact with two other 18-wheelers, one of which jackknifed and struck three cars, adding up to seven vehicles involved in the crash. Nicole Gregory, 49, was driving a 2021 Jeep Compass and was transported to a hospital by helicopter. She was pronounced deceased upon arrival.
The Terrell Volunteer Fire Department said the crash was “horrific” and categorized it as a “mass casualty” event, according to NBC DFW. While the number of those injured remains unclear, the department said several more people had “less severe injuries.”
I-20 was closed in the hours following the crash and reopened overnight Saturday.
Gonzalez-Companioni is in the Kaufman County jail on a $1.5 million bond, records show. The Texas DPS has also confirmed the suspect is employed by Hope Trans LLC, a Washington-based trucking company.
The identities of those killed in the crash are expected to be released to the public Tuesday.
The National Transportation Safety Board, in collaboration with the Texas DPS, opened a safety investigation into the deadly incident.
Texas leads nation in deadly crashes with 18-wheelers
The incident comes amid growing concerns over truck driver fatigue and scheduling pressures as fatal wrecks involving commercial vehicles continue to rise — with Texas leading the nation in the number of deadly truck crashes.
Commercial growth and increased freight demand have added to traffic congestion, while ongoing work zones and continued development among some of the state’s busiest highways create stop-and-go conditions that raise the risk of serious collisions.
In March, a truck driver contracted with Amazon was arrested after a crash on Interstate 35 in North Austin that killed five people — including an infant and a child — and injured at least a dozen others. The wreck involved at least 17 vehicles. Driver Solomun Weldekeal Araya, 37, was charged with several counts of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.
Since 2010, fatal crashes involving large trucks have surged 64%, and fatalities themselves have jumped 87%, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Driver fatigue is cited as the leasing cause, leading to more than half of fatal crashes.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 18-wheeler driver falls asleep on I-20, killing 5 in Kaufman County, Texas DPS says
Reporting by Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman / Austin American-Statesman
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
