Truck driver falls asleep behind the wheel kills six people in crash

KAUFMAN COUNTY, TX – A tragic multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 20 claimed a sixth life, leading to serious charges against the driver involved. Alexis Gonzalez, the operator of an 18-wheeler, faces six counts of manslaughter after admitting to falling asleep at the wheel. The devastating crash occurred Saturday afternoon, involving multiple vehicles, including two other big rigs.

The accident’s impact was severe, particularly for those in a Ford F-150, which carried five passengers. Four of them died at the scene, while the fifth was airlifted to a hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries. Another life was lost in a Jeep involved in the crash. Authorities have yet to release the victims’ names, as they work to notify the families.

DPS investigators confirmed that all victims were local to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Efforts to reach the trucking company, based in Washington State, for comment have so far been unsuccessful.

Questions remain about the circumstances leading to Gonzalez’s fatigue. Investigators have not disclosed whether exhaustion, intoxication, or other factors contributed to the driver falling asleep. The incident has drawn attention to ongoing concerns about mandatory rest periods for truck drivers, a topic of heated discussion in recent years.

Details of Gonzalez’s driving schedule prior to the crash remain unclear, leaving unanswered questions about compliance with safety regulations. The investigation continues, as authorities seek to determine the exact sequence of events that led to this tragedy.

This accident underscores the critical importance of adhering to safety protocols in the trucking industry. Many companies have implemented systems to automatically power down trucks after drivers reach their maximum allowed hours. It remains uncertain whether such measures were in place in this case.