A teenage man who stopped to help the victims of an early-morning crash was killed when another car crashed into the them early Sunday morning, according to police.
Lewisville police responded to a call Sunday morning at 4:36 a.m. regarding a four vehicle crash near the 2400 block of Interstate 35E northbound.
A witness told police two vehicles stopped on the highway to help people inside an SUV that rolled over. A fourth car struck both vehicles and a pedestrian who was out of a vehicle trying to help.
The pedestrian struck was later identified as 18-year-old Luis Mario Aleman-Mendoza by the Tarrant County medical examiner.
His cousin in Little Elm said Aleman was visiting for the summer from Juarez, Mexico. He recently graduated from high school and wanted to attend college, according to his cousin Maria Mojica. She describes him as always willing to help others.
“That was his nature, he was such a good person,” Mojica said, “He was such a good guy.”
Mojica was with Aleman when the accident happened. She tells NBC 5 they were returning home from celebrating a family member’s birthday at their aunt’s house in Dallas.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
"He died helping somebody, regardless if the person was drunk or anything regardless," Mojica said. "He got out, he help, without even thinking of anything. He's our hero."
Aleman-Mendoza was taken to Medical Center-Lewisville where he later died from his injuries. The driver who hit him was taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas with unknown injuries. Police said he is cooperating with the investigation and does not currently face charges.
The driver from the original car crash, 32-year-old Tristan Harris of Lewisville, is charged with intoxication assault with serious bodily injury. A passenger inside his vehicle was transported to Plano Presbyterian Hospital with unknown injuries.
Police said alcohol may have been a contributing factor in both collisions. Harris was held in the Lewisville jail before arraignment.
NBC 5's Brian Roth contributed to this report.
