Sepulveda’s Car After the Wreck, FOX 4 Photo
At first all we knew about the wreck that closed down the Dallas North Tollway last week was that it involved a DART paratransit van that failed to slow down with traffic. Now new video shows exactly how negligent and unbelievable the DART van’s actions were. The van is speeding and does not even touch his breaks before slamming into a line of stopped cars on the I-35 access road. It is as if the driver was blind and simply cannot see the road in front of him, and yet he curved towards the ramp. DART’s initial evaluation of, “result of the van operator failing to slow with traffic,” seems woefully inadequate in light of the video and of 28-year-old Jose Sepulveda’s serious injuries.
Rosa Sepulveda, WFAA Interview
Sepulveda was one of two injured in the five car collision. Sepulveda is still in intensive care at Parkland. His extensive injuries include a broken hip, arm, leg and eleven ribs. His mother, Rosa Sepulveda, spoke with WFAA’s Monika Diaz about her son’s condition. Her interview includes her anger and shock at DART driver Willie Grant’s actions. In the video Rosa says she spoke with her son who described the accident from his perspective. He said that he saw the DART bus coming towards him and not slowing down. Stopped in traffic himself, there was nothing that he could do. He gripped the steering will and closed his eyes before impact.
Rosa told the reporter, “I was upset and angry because [the DART driver] never… paid attention, and I’m still asking why can he drive and not pay attention.” Grant is on paid administrative lead pending DART’s full investigation. The driver may have over 11 years of experience, but he will need one heck of an excuse to explain his choices this time.
In one last appeal to drivers everywhere Rosa begged us all to “please, pay attention” when driving.
