Trees Stop Car from Plunging into Creek, Driver Dies

Dallas police are investigating a deadly crash that caused a car to go airborne, stopping just short of Turtle Creek Tuesday morning.

The wreck happened in Uptown Dallas at about 1 a.m. According to police, the driver of the car, 31-year-old Galen Weston Swank, was killed after he lost control of his car near Turtle Creek Boulevard and Blackburn Street, ran off of the road and hit several trees.

Police believe speed contributed to the crash.

Witnesses tell police Swank spun his tires at a stop light, peeled out and was going too fast around a curve when he lost control and plowed through a fence. Swank’s Mercedes hit one tree, bounced off of that one and hit three others before coming to a stop short of the water’s edge.

Rescue crews found Swank dead inside of the car.

Witnesses said right before the wreck, Swank peeled out from Blackburn Street heading north on Turtle Creek Boulevard.

Records show he was just seven blocks from home. Friends of Swank's, who have been stopping by the crash site Tuesday morning, said he worked in investments, was married and had a 3-month old child.