Fatal Interstate 20 Wreck Near Terrell: Hope Trans LLC Receives Unsatisfactory Safety Rating
Hope Trans LLC, the trucking company involved in a fatal Interstate 20 wreck near Terrell, recently received an unsatisfactory safety rating from a federal transportation agency and is now at risk of being taken off the road.
The wreck, which happened around 2:40 p.m. June 28, came after a trucker allegedly fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a truck carrying five members of a Fort Worth family. Four people in the vehicle were killed, while a Dallas woman in a separate car was also killed in the pileup. The crash involved seven vehicles, including three 18-wheelers, according to the Terrell Volunteer Fire Department.
Traffic was already backed up on the highway due to a previous crash, officials said.
According to a statement from a U.S. Department of Transportation spokesperson, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration completed a compliance inspection on Hope Trans on Aug. 15 and issued a proposed unsatisfactory safety rating.
Investigation and Findings
An investigation found four safety violations, which included using a driver before obtaining a negative result from a pre-employment drug test, failure to conduct post-accident alcohol testing, operating trucks that were not periodically inspected and maintaining an out-of-service rate of 46.2% for vehicles.
If “substantial corrective actions” were not taken within 60 days, Hope Trans could be taken out of service and taken off the road, the spokesperson said. The investigation is ongoing.
An investigation from the National Transportation Safety Board is also ongoing. A message seeking comment left at a phone number listed for Hope Trans in public records was not returned Friday.
Driver Arrested and Charged
The semitruck driver, 27-year-old Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni, was arrested and booked into the Kaufman County jail after the crash. He was indicted earlier this month on five counts of manslaughter and four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He remained jailed Friday on $2.25 million bond.
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Conclusion
The fatal Interstate 20 wreck near Terrell has raised concerns about the safety of Hope Trans LLC, a trucking company that has received an unsatisfactory safety rating from a federal transportation agency. The company is at risk of being taken off the road if it does not take substantial corrective actions within 60 days. The investigation is ongoing, and the driver involved in the crash has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of manslaughter and aggravated assault.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened in the fatal Interstate 20 wreck near Terrell?
A: A semitruck driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a truck carrying five members of a Fort Worth family, killing four people in the vehicle and a Dallas woman in a separate car.
Q: What is the current status of Hope Trans LLC?
A: Hope Trans LLC has received an unsatisfactory safety rating from a federal transportation agency and is at risk of being taken off the road if it does not take substantial corrective actions within 60 days.
Q: What are the charges against the semitruck driver?
A: The semitruck driver, 27-year-old Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni, has been indicted on five counts of manslaughter and four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
