Latest news with #AlexisGonzalezCompanioni
CBS News
5 hours ago
- CBS News
North Texas truck driver injured in I-20 crash describes one of the most horrific scenes of his 30-year career
A seasoned truck driver from Balch Springs injured in the devastating multi-vehicle crash near Terrell on Saturday said it marks one of the most horrific scenes of his over 30-year career. Julius Reeves said in his over 30-year career as a truck driver, he's never seen anything like what he saw on Saturday. "It's such a bad thing that has happened, and I'm still trying to process it," said Reeves. "On the other hand, I'm trying to forget about everything as well." Authorities said 27-year-old Alexis Gonzalez Companioni was driving a commercial truck and fell asleep behind the wheel, triggering a multi-vehicle pileup, killing four members of the McKellar family who were inside a Ford F-150 and Nicole Gregory, who was driving a Jeep Compass. A fifth member of the McKellar family and sole survivor from the F-150, 20-year-old Evan McKellar, was critically injured in the crash and remains in the hospital. Reeves was driving one of seven vehicles involved in the horrific 18-wheeler accident on I-20 that killed five in Kaufman County. He was driving a semi-truck at the very front of the crash and was rear-ended by another semi. On Wednesday, Reeves was on his way to a doctor to get checked out. He suffered from injuries including a broken nose, two black eyes, and a swollen face. "To see that guy coming behind me, no, I never saw that," he said. "Everything happened so fast. So fast. I kinda lost a little consciousness." It wasn't until he got out of his truck that Reeves discovered the magnitude of the crash. "To look at the vehicles on that horrific sight, and, over 30-something plus years, I've never witnessed or been involved in a situation like that," said Reeves. He said just before he was hit, the traffic in front of him started moving, and thankfully, it did, because he said that had it not, he likely would have been pushed into the vehicles in front of him. Reeves said he doesn't want the spotlight to be on him, but instead on the five people who died. "It was a bad thing to happen on a beautiful day," Reeves said. "I wish them to know I love them and to be strong, and this will pass as well, with time... with time."
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
20-year-old fighting for her life after I-20 crash that killed her parents and brother, family says
A 20-year-old woman critically injured in a deadly crash on I-20 near Terrell over the weekend is the sole survivor from the Ford F-150 that was struck by a semi-truck, her family confirmed Tuesday. Evan McKellar is in the ICU at Parkland Hospital, fighting for her life after the Saturday afternoon crash that killed five people in total, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Four of the victims were in the F-150 with her. 18-wheeler driver charged in fatal I-20 crash The driver of the 18-wheeler, 27-year-old Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni, failed to see stalled traffic around 2:40 p.m. and struck the pickup carrying five people, Texas DPS said. Four were pronounced dead at the scene, and Evan McKellar was care-flighted to the hospital in critical condition. The impact pushed the semi into two other trucks, causing a jackknife that struck a Jeep Compass, a Ford Mustang, and a Honda. One person in the Jeep also died at the scene, authorities said. That victim has not yet been identified. Gonzalez-Companioni has been charged with five counts of manslaughter. Texas DPS corrects initial I-20 crash death toll While Texas DPS initially said Monday that the death toll stood at six, a spokesperson clarified on Tuesday that the number was five, citing a miscommunication. Family identifies victims in Ford F-150 Family members identified three of the four victims in the F-150 as 15-year-old Kason McKellar, his parents, Krishaun and Zabar McKellar. Evan McKellar, the lone survivor, lost her mother, father and brother in the crash. The fourth person who died in the pickup has not yet been publicly identified, as authorities are still notifying next of kin. McKellar family Felicia Luster, Evan McKellar's grandmother, said the family is praying for her recovery and asking for privacy. "First of all, I want to thank [the community] for their prayers and support, and I want everyone to know that there was a survivor, my granddaughter. That she is in the hospital… that we're praying, and expecting a full recovery, and we thank you all for all of your support, and we just want you to respect our privacy right now as we heal and move forward," Luster said. "I want them to be remembered as a loving and devoted Christian family, that loved God and they had a strong faith, and that they loved their family, and that they were good parents and they raised their children in the fear and admiration of the Lord," she added. The family said Kason McKellar was a student at North Crowley High School and recently helped lead his team to a championship. Evan McKellar is a college student. McKellar family The family has set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses.
CBS News
a day ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Federal investigators eye driver fatigue in deadly 18 wheeler crash on I-20 tied to Florida-based carrier
Federal investigators are examining the role driver fatigue may have played in a deadly I-20 crash near Terrell over the weekend involving a Florida-based truck driver and his employer, Hope Trans LLC. The National Transportation Safety Board, in coordination with the Texas Department of Public Safety, has opened a safety investigation into the crash that killed five people on Interstate 20 in Terrell, Texas. The driver, identified as Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni, 27, is from Florida and works for Hope Trans LLC, a trucking company with a listed address in the Orlando area, according to USDOT records. Records show the company had a previously listed address of Tacoma, Washington. Federal transportation records show Hope Trans LLC has been in operation since 2021. The company currently operates 65 trucks and employs 80 drivers. It is listed as being in compliance with federal safety regulations. In the past 24 months, Hope Trans LLC has been involved in three crashes resulting in injuries, though none were fatal until this weekend's incident. In terms of driver compliance, based on federal inspection in the past 24 months, the company's record is slightly better than the national average. Five percent of Hope Trans LLC drivers were found "out of service" during a federal inspection, compared to the national average of 6.7%. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website shows no "acute/critical" violations for hours-of-service compliance or driver fitness. Federal rules limit commercial truck drivers to a 12-hour driving limit after 8 consecutive hours off-duty, as well as a 70-hour weekly limit over 7 consecutive days. As the NTSB continues its investigation, questions remain about what could have been done to prevent the crash—and whether warning signs were missed.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Sixth victim dies after "horrific" I-20 crash near Terrell when 18-wheeler driver allegedly fell asleep
Residents shocked by devastating crash near Terrell that killed 5 after semi driver falls asleep Residents shocked by devastating crash near Terrell that killed 5 after semi driver falls asleep Residents shocked by devastating crash near Terrell that killed 5 after semi driver falls asleep A sixth person has died following the devastating crash on I-20 near Terrell on Saturday, allegedly caused by an 18-wheeler driver falling asleep at the wheel, officials said Monday. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 27-year-old Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni was driving his 18-wheeler when he failed to see stalled traffic around 2:40 p.m., striking a Ford F-150 carrying five people. Four people in the F-150 were pronounced dead at the scene, and the fifth was care-flighted to a hospital in critical condition, Texas DPS said. The impact pushed Gonzalez-Companioni's semi into two other trucks, causing a jackknife that struck a Jeep Compass, a Ford Mustang, and a Honda, with one person in the Jeep also dying at the scene, authorities said. Emergency crews responding to the crash called it "horrific" and a "mass casualty" event. Residents who live at an RV park off I-20 who witnessed the crash said the scene was so graphic, they were still shaken up a day later. Gonzalez-Companioni faces multiple charges, including five counts of manslaughter. He is currently being held in the Kaufman County Jail.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Witnesses shocked by deadly I-20 crash near Terrell after semi driver allegedly falls asleep
Residents who live off I-20 in Kaufman County, near where the deadly crash allegedly caused by a semi driver falling asleep at the wheel happened, said they're still shaken by what they witnessed. Five people are dead and a sixth person is in the hospital after the crash that shut down I-20 near Hiram Road on Saturday, authorities said. The crash happened at about 2:40 p.m. when the Texas Department of Public Safety said 27-year-old Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel of his 18-wheeler, failing to see stalled traffic. He struck a Ford F-150 carrying five people. Four of the five people in the Ford F-150 were pronounced dead at the scene, while the fifth was care-flighted to a hospital in critical condition, DPS said in a news release. The 18-wheeler driven by Gonzalez-Companioni was then pushed into two other 18-wheelers, causing one to jack-knife and strike a Jeep Compass, a Ford Mustang, and a Honda passenger vehicle, according to Texas DPS. One person in the Jeep Compass struck by the jack-knifed semi was also pronounced dead at the scene, DPS said. Gonzalez-Companioni faces several charges, including five counts of manslaughter, DPS said. The Terrell Volunteer Fire Department described the crash as "horrific" and declared a "mass casualty" event. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, shutting down traffic in both directions as first responders aided the injured and investigators worked to determine the cause. "You heard the crash. It was a big boom." Residents who live at TR3 RV Resort off I-20 said they heard the crash and ran through the field to help those impacted. They said the scene was so graphic, they are still shaken up a day later. "You heard the crash. It was a big boom," said Shelly Timms, who witnessed the crash. "Big, big boom. Then I heard helicopters, so I ran outside." Corinne Mulcahy said she just happened to be looking out the window and saw the crash. "So I looked up and I saw the first truck, I saw his brake lights, saw the F-150, and here comes this tractor trailer," said Mulcahy. "And I'll tell you, man, I don't know how many miles an hour he was going when he was driving, but he hit that car, and I knew he killed everybody in that truck." For hours, the highway was shut down in both directions. "People started calling me and they were like, 'Oh my goodness, do you have a restroom? We've been sitting here for three or four hours,'" said Buddha Wyrick, the property manager at TR3 RV Resort. "I didn't know they had to turn their cars off. So they were like heat exhaustion and stuff." Wyrick said dozens of people walked over to use the restroom. "They were upset and traumatized. There was a few, like, that saw it in front of them," Wyrick said. "They were like, 'We're the fourth car back,' or, 'the second car back.' And they were telling me stories." Residents said tragedies like this serve as a reminder to always be cautious.
