The Arlington Police Department is currently investigating a tragic accident that led to the death of a 19-year-old man early Wednesday morning.
At approximately 2:39 a.m. on May 15, 2024, emergency services including the Arlington PD, Fire Department, and EMS responded to an iPhone crash alert on the westbound lanes of 2600 E I20 Freeway near Collins Street.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered that the driver, identified as 19-year-old Elijah Jamel Campbell of Mansfield, had veered into the right shoulder of the freeway, colliding with an unoccupied parked vehicle.
Campbell was pronounced deceased at the scene. It was noted that he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
In response to the accident, two lanes of the I-20 Freeway were temporarily closed from approximately 1:45 to 5:00 a.m., with two lanes and the exit ramp of northbound SH 360 closed from 5:00 to 6:30 a.m. All lanes were reopened by 6:30 a.m.
In a statement, the Arlington Police Department emphasized the importance of wearing seatbelts while driving, underscoring that accidents can occur unexpectedly. Wearing a seatbelt significantly reduces the risk of death and lessens the severity of injuries in the event of a collision.
