Man Who Stole City Equipment Involved In Fatal Wrong-Way Crash
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas police are investigating an incident where a man stole a City of Dallas backhoe and was involved in a fatal wrong way accident on North Stemmons Freeway early Sunday morning.
According to police, the man stole a backhoe that belonged to the water department from Walnut Hill Lane at Shady Trail at approximately 5:00 a.m. Sunday.
Police and witnesses said the man was driving the backhoe southbound on the northbound lanes of N. Stemmons Freeway.
According to police, the backhoe collided with a white GMC Envoy that was traveling on the northbound lanes in the 9900 block of the freeway. The backhoe's front end loader struck the front passenger side of the vehicle.
Police said the passenger of the vehicle, who was identified as 20-year-old Elizabeth Suarez, was killed on impact.
The driver, who was identified as 22-year-old Diana Mejicanos, was transported to Parkland Hospital by Dallas Fire Rescue.
According to police, witnesses said the backhoe was traveling the wrong way with no lights on. Witnesses also said the suspect who stole the backhoe fled the scene on foot and was bleeding from the left side of his face and appeared to have a leg injury.
Witnesses described the suspect as wearing black pants with a grey sweatshirt.
According to police, witnesses said two construction workers pulled over and moved the backhoe to the shoulder of the freeway to prevent further accidents.
Dallas police are still investigating the accident and are still searching for the suspect.
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