A truck driver who allegedly fell asleep on Interstate 20 triggered a catastrophic pileup that killed five people—turning a routine highway trip into Texas’s deadliest trucking disaster in years.
At a Glance
- Five people were killed in a multivehicle crash on June 28 near Terrell, Texas.
- The driver, Alexis Gonzalez‑Companioni, is charged with five counts of manslaughter.
- The collision involved three 18‑wheelers and multiple passenger cars.
- Off‑duty nurses provided lifesaving aid before emergency services arrived.
- Authorities say the driver admitted to falling asleep just before the impact.
“I Woke Up to a Loud Bang”—Fatal Error
According to police, 27‑year‑old trucker Alexis Osmani Gonzalez‑Companioni fell asleep while heading east on I‑20 and plowed into a line of stalled traffic. The massive impact obliterated a Ford F‑150, killing four family members on site and a fifth later at a hospital. Another young passenger remains in critical condition.
The collision caused a chain reaction involving two additional tractor‑trailers and a Jeep Compass. Gonzalez‑Companioni reportedly told authorities he “woke up to a loud bang,” confirming he had nodded off. He now faces five manslaughter charges and one count of aggravated assault.
Watch a report: Truck Driver Arrested After Falling Asleep at the Wheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRfEsQaYyC0
Nurses Rush to Scene as Lives Hang in the Balance
Thomas and Taressa Flores, both nurses on their way to a family reunion, became unexpected first responders. Thomas helped extinguish flames and rescued trapped passengers, while Taressa rendered emergency care on the roadside. Their courage likely prevented additional deaths in the chaotic aftermath.
Investigators confirmed that the victims included three generations of a single family traveling together—an unspeakable loss made more tragic by its preventability.
Aftermath and Legal Fallout
Prosecutors are pursuing full penalties against Gonzalez‑Companioni, who remains jailed in Kaufman County. The case has reignited national concerns over trucker fatigue, logbook enforcement, and corporate accountability. As revealed by People, civil litigation by victims’ families is already underway.
State and federal transportation authorities are reviewing rest period regulations, and calls are growing for stricter limits on continuous commercial driving hours. With five lives lost and a community shattered, this crash is a grim reminder of the human cost of one moment’s lapse.
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Author: Editor
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