Tow truck driver accused in Dallas hit-and-run crash that started deadly chain of events arrested
DALLAS - A man turned himself in to authorities more than a week after he allegedly caused a Dallas crash that later led to a Good Samaritan being killed.
Newly released intake video shows 25-year-old Juan Francisco Garcia being booked into the Dallas County Jail on Monday afternoon.
After hiring an attorney, Garcia turned himself in to authorities more than a week after he allegedly caused a crash that later led to the former Marine's death.
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office says around 2:30 a.m. on August 12 Garcia was driving a red tow truck that clipped a van on I-30 near Second Avenue, causing a tragic chain of events.
The van spun out and stopped while it faced oncoming traffic.
Investigators say Garcia took off in the tow truck.
25-year-old husband, father and Marine veteran Donald Ray Collins III, known to loved ones as Trey, was on his way home from work when he pulled over to help the people inside the van.
Man killed by drunken driver while helping hit-and-run crash victim, officials say
Law enforcement officials said a drunken driver killed a Good Samaritan as he tried to help the victim of a separate hit-and-run crash.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 4 on Tuesday, Collins called 911 to report the hit-and-run while getting out of his vehicle.
That's when the Sheriff's Office says a suspected drunk driver, 33-year-old Irma Martinez-Leal, hit and killed Collins.
Martinez-Leal was taken into custody the day of the crash and faces intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault charges.
The two people inside the van, a mother and her 16-year-old son, survived the crash.
Investigators said Collins used his body to shield the family in the van.
Meanwhile, the Dallas County Sheriff's Office was tipped off that the red tow truck was in a backyard less than 2 miles away from the crash site.
Investigators showed up to the home near Fair Park and noticed the truck under a tarp.
The towing decal and phone number on the side of the truck had been painted over by black spray paint.
Deputies say they found five cans of spray paint in the backyard scattered around.
The homeowner told sheriff's deputies "the truck came from across the street, but he didn't know his neighbor."
Tuesday, FOX 4 spoke to the same homeowner, who didn't want to talk on camera or give many details, only insisting he didn't know Garcia and that Garcia parked the tow truck on his property before asking permission.
Investigators were also sent Garcia's social media profile, identifying him as the owner of the tow truck.
Last Thursday, the sheriff's office was notified through Garcia's attorney he would show up to jail Monday, the same day Collins' funeral was held.
Funeral services held for good Samaritan killed by suspected drunk driver
The woman who hit him is in jail facing charges but the driver of another vehicle involved is still out there.
Collins' widow performed an emotional dance to remember him.
Collins’ father said his son had a spirit of helping others.
"He's always been a true and loving person. Always. From the time he was a little bitty dude, I would watch him play with other kids and we would be like, ‘Hey you can't do it like that, you got to do it like this. Come over here. You're going to get in trouble. Don't do that.’ You know, he would do those kinds of things and it just rolled over to him as an adult," Donald Collins Jr. said.
Collins was a Marine veteran. He will be buried at DFW National Cemetery.
The sheriff’s office said Garcia surrendered Monday night to face charges for an accident involving serious bodily injury and tampering with evidence, for the spray paint.
FOX 4 spoke to Garcia's attorneys who believe he has been overcharged.
They plan to fight the charges in court.
Garcia has bonded out of jail.