Latest news with #AlexisGonzalezCompanioni
CBS News
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Could autonomous trucks prevent accidents like the deadly I-20 crash, when an 18-wheeler driver fell asleep at the wheel?
Last Saturday's devastating crash on I-20 in Kaufman County left five people dead and one critically injured is raising new questions about the push toward autonomous trucking and whether the tech could help prevent crashes like this one in the future. 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. Gonzalez-Companioni is charged with five counts of manslaughter. Julius Reeves was driving one of seven vehicles involved in the mass casualty event. He was driving a semi-truck at the very front of the crash and was rear-ended by another semi. "It's such a bad thing that has happened," Reeves said. He's recovering from a broken nose and two black eyes. "To look at the vehicles on that horrific sight ... over 30 something plus years, I've never witnessed or been involved in a situation like that," he said. "The research does show that drowsiness and drowsy driving is a common factor in crashes," Aurora's Chief Safety Officer, Nat Beuse said. "If you look at the top three, it's generally speeding, it's generally alcohol and generally belt use." Aurora recently made history as the first to commercially operate self-driving heavy-duty trucks, launching here in North Texas. Beuse said the technology eliminates human error. "All the things that plague us as humans, it doesn't have those things," he said. Some critics question how well driverless trucks handle challenges like bad weather or unpredictable traffic. Aurora said those scenarios have been thoroughly studied. "We have an off-line suite that we use through simulation," Beuse said. "You can think of our simulation suite as a collection of the world's hardest driving tests, and that is built off thousands of requirements, and those thousands of requirements result in millions of simulations, and that software has to pass through all of that before it's allowed on public roads" said Beuse. The company has publicly released a safety report, working with federal and state agencies. "We've been operating continuously, nearly seven days a week, since April, and we've accumulated nearly 15,000 miles of driverless miles already, and that number just keeps going up and up and up every week, and we've never had any incidents to speak of," Beuse said. Aurora believes autonomous trucking is the way of the future and that it could help save lives. The company plans to expand operations to El Paso and Phoenix later this year.
CBS News
02-07-2025
- 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
02-07-2025
- 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
01-07-2025
- 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
30-06-2025
- 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.
