Drivers on US Highway 75 in Allen, Texas on September 20, witnessed a horrific event when an 18-wheeler truck collided with another vehicle and flew over an overpass. The truck, landed on the service road burst into flames, and killed the driver.
The accident was caught on video and shows the truck hitting the overpass barrier and landing on the road below, in a huge fireball.
The driver, 71-year old Gustavo Gomez, from Dallas, died at the scene. Packages, letters and papers from his truck flew all over the highway.
An employee from United States Postal Services (USPS) was seen circling the crash site, taking photos of the destroyed truck, and talking on the phone.
Gomez was not an employee of USPS; he worked for the Bancroft and Sons shipping company that had a contract with the USPS providing transportation services.
Police arrived at the scene and found the trailer suspended on the right safety barrier. Upon further investigation, they found the driver, who had succumbed to injuries from the accident.
Gomez, a truck driver, for 21 years, left behind a wife and five children.
Gomez’ wife, Helen Torres, related that her husband was a very humorous person and that he was in every way a “truck driver,” adding that he was very good at his job and appreciated a good working car when he saw one.
“He was a very hard worker,” Torres said. “He always has been for his family. Whatever it was, whether it was driving across the country or not, he always made sure we were taken care of and provided for.”
Torres said that she did not believe that the accident resulted from something her husband did wrong, because she knew he was a very careful driver. Gomez was especially careful when driving big machines. According to his wife, he had to be alert because he knew what he was driving.
The Texas Department of Transportation said that they had deployed crews to the scene and were already investigating, which caused a huge traffic pile-up on the highway spanning for miles.
A statement released by the USPS said that the accident involved a contractor who transports mail for the postal service, and that their thoughts and prayers were with the family of the deceased.
The driver in the other car involved in the collision amazingly did not sustain any injuries before Gomez’ truck veered off the overpass.
Gomez’ wife said that the trucking company her husband worked for, Bancroft and Sons Transportation, had generously offered to pay for her husband’s funeral.
Gomez’ daughter set up a GoFundMe page to help the family, as Gomez was the sole provider.
