Innocent Air Force veteran and father killed in wrong-way police chase crash
DALLAS - The family of 35-year-old Joel Jusino is devastated by his death and still trying to process how the crash happened.
Jusino is being remembered for his infectious smile and love for his family.
"Joel was a beautiful person inside and out," said Juan Rios, his uncle.
Joel Jusino
Rios is still coming to terms with the fact that his nephew is gone.
"Every time we think about it, it’s just so surreal. Like, we just can’t believe it," he said.
The Backstory: The Texas Department of Public Safety said Jusino was hit by a wrong-way driver involved in a police chase while driving at Inwood Road off Interstate 35E in Dallas on Saturday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police chase with stolen vehicle ends in Dallas with deadly head-on crash
A police chase with a stolen ended with a deadly crash in Dallas on Saturday.
The chase had started in Fort Worth when police tried to stop 35-year-old Devonte Webber since the SUV he was driving was reported stolen in Chicago.
Police also said Webber was armed and involved in a robbery in Burleson on Christmas Eve.
He now faces multiple charges, including murder, evading arrest causing death, unauthorized use of a vehicle and the unlawful carrying of a weapon.
What People Are Saying: Rios was on a family vacation in Cabo, Mexico when his niece broke the news about what had happened.
"And when she did, I just… it was, it’s just disbelief. We were just in disbelief," he said. "When you look at how long and just the amount of people that they may have encountered, it could happen to anybody. Unfortunately, it happened to us."
Wrong-way driver barely avoided several cars before deadly Dallas crash, witnesses say
Witnesses say a police chase with a stolen vehicle that ended in a deadly Dallas crash was nearly much worse.
Jusino, an Illinois native, moved to Texas when he joined the Air Force in 2012.
He leaves behind a 4-year-old son.
"He loved his son. He was so happy to be a dad," his uncle said.
Joel Jusino and his 4-year-old son
Jusino was also a big part of the boxing community in North Texas. It was a passion he shared with Rios.
"My whole family, we all used to get together at my mom's place and watch fights," he said.
Rios feels comfort knowing Jusino knew how much his family loved him. And he encourages everyone to tell their family they love them because they never know when it could be the last time.
"Don’t wait. You know, any differences, put them aside. It’s not worth it. You know, because tomorrow’s not promised. Never, never in a million years would I think Joel would not be around, especially something like this," his uncle said.
How You Can Help: The family is working to get Jusino’s body back to Illinois to be buried.
There’s an online fundraiser that’s already raised more than $12,000.