On Wednesday the Dallas County Sheriff's Office said investigators found the tow truck accused of causing a crash which led to the death of a Good Samaritan. Investigators are still looking for the driver.
The hit-and-run happened over the weekend on I-30 near Downtown Dallas. A Marine veteran stopped to help, but while doing so was hit and killed by a suspected intoxicated driver in a different car.
"There's a mother and a child that’s is still walking on this earth because my husband was selfless. He did what the Lord would do," said Elizabeth Collins, Donald's wife.
Officials said 25-year-old Donald Collins – also known as Trey by his family – was killed while trying to help a family who had been involved in a car crash.
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He was on his way home from work as a security guard when he saw what happened.
"He always had that savior mentality," said Donald's father, Donald Collins Sr. "He had a heart for people, very compassionate."
According to the Dallas County Sheriff's Office, Traffic Units were dispatched to eastbound Interstate 30 at 2nd Avenue at around 2:30 a.m. Saturday in response to a major accident.
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Officials said the initial crash was caused by a red tow truck that collided with a 2006 Chrysler Town and County van, causing it to spin and face oncoming traffic. After hitting the van, the red tow truck then fled the scene.
That’s when Collins stopped to help the driver of the van, and while standing by the wrecked vehicle, a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe collided with both the van and Collins, according to investigators.
Collins was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead, officials said.
"He did something to prevent someone else getting hurt. Did it cause his life? Yes. But that's okay because he saved two," said his wife.
The passengers of the van were injured and taken to the hospital but expected to be OK.
Collins's wife said she knew something was wrong when he didn't come home. She said like a clock work he called her at 2:13 a.m. to let her know he was on her way home from work. Collins said it usually takes him 20 minutes to arrive through the door after the call, but he never did.
She called his phone, but it went straight to voicemail. She checked the front room because sometimes he's restless and watches TV.
“So when I realized he wasn't there, I called his phone, it never get past the second ring. I called again, and it went to voicemail. I text him and said, 'Why does it say you’re at the hospital?' I called again, and a nurse answered the phone and told me to verify my husband’s information and that’s how I found out," described Collins.
Dallas County Sheriff's Deputies arrested the driver of the Tahoe, identified as 33-year-old Irma Nelly Martinez-Leal, officials said. She has been charged with one count of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault with a vehicle.
Donald leaves behind a wife and a young daughter. During the press conference Wednesday, the family spoke about their faith giving them strength through this difficult time.
"My husband did his part, which is serve. Not just for the world, but for the Lord. Everything he did was to honor the Lord," Elizabeth said. "It was his time. None of us have a day or time when the Lord is going to call us home, we are on borrowed time and his time was up."
His family said their biggest goal now is to the world know who he was and what he stood for.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm very sad because I'm going to miss my best friend. But missing him is not going to stop what our mission in the world is, and that is to save souls. That's what he did. That family is thankful that he did what he did. There's a mother and child still walking on this earth because my husband was selfless."
In a moving statement, Donald's wife went on to say that she forgives that driver. She said she hopes that what happened to her husband doesn't deter anyone from stepping up and helping others.
"I pray that since she still has breath in her body, that she gets to know the Lord. Each time she wakes up in the morning, I hope that she prays for forgiveness and not just mean it but get to know Him," Elizabeth said. "I'm not upset with her -- she wasn't in her right mind. A lot of us are not…My love does not waver because of darkness, because my heart is filled with life."
Donald and his wife recently celebrated their 5-year wedding anniversary and had been looking forward to celebrating their daughter's 3rd birthday in a few weeks.
Officials said the Dallas County Sheriff's Office Vehicle Crimes Unit is attempting to locate the red tow truck and its driver.
Anyone with dash camera footage or details of this accident, please contact VCU@dallascounty.org or contact Det. M. Hernandez at 214-589-2343.
To donate to the GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Donald Collins' family, click here.
“We’ll miss him but our hearts are at peace because he lived a life that was pleasing to God pleasing to us," said Collins's father whose name is also Donald.
The father, who is also a Marine veteran, called his son a 'hero' and said he's grateful to have his granddaughter.
"It means a lot because I can look at her and see all the things I used to see in him when she was his age," said Collins Sr.
