An accident occurred Wednesday afternoon, just before 1:00 pm on February 7, 2024, on the eastbound lanes of I-20 near Cedar Ridge Drive, prompting the response of Duncanville Fire/EMS and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.
According to preliminary investigations, a FedEx 18-wheeler traveling eastbound on the interstate attempted to pass a car in the right lane when it collided with two tow truck operators on the shoulder.
One of the tow truck operators, identified as 44-year-old Oscar Merchan Contreras, was pronounced deceased at the scene at 1:45 pm. The second operator sustained serious injuries and was airlifted by CareFlite to a local hospital for treatment.
Police reported that the operators were in the process of towing a vehicle at the time of the collision.
There were no other injuries reported in the crash, and authorities confirmed that neither alcohol nor drugs were involved in the incident.
The Cedar Hill Fire Department provided assistance with their Heavy Rescue unit during the response to the scene.
The investigation is ongoing.
