Fort Worth baby dies from injuries after weekend crash on Interstate 20 in Arlington
A 9-month-old Fort Worth boy died Tuesday morning from injuries he received after he was ejected from a sport utility vehicle involved in a major wreck on Interstate 20 in Arlington, authorities said.
Five other passengers in the SUV were taken to local hospitals, but none of the injuries were considered life-threatening, according to Arlington police.
Arlington investigators determined that the driver of a 2009 Ford Escape SUV on Interstate 20 veered in front of an 18-wheeler, causing the 18-wheeler to strike the back of the SUV.
On impact, the SUV went off the highway and rolled multiple times down an embankment, Arlington police said.
The baby, who Arlington police believe was sitting unrestrained in an adult passenger’s lap, was ejected from the SUV.
The baby was identified as Zadqiuel Hector Escamilla Perez, who turned 9 months old on Tuesday, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office website.
He was pronounced dead at 8:26 a.m. Tuesday at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, according to the website.
The fatal crash occurred shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday on eastbound I-20 near US 287.
At the time of the crash, seven people were in the SUV, which Arlington police say is designed for only for five.
The driver of the SUV and the driver of the 18-wheeler were not seriously injured, Arlington police said.
Arlington investigators continued on Tuesday to try and determine why the SUV driver veered in front of the 18-wheeler.
The Arlington Police Department wants to remind the public that state law requires all children younger than 8 years old, unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches, to be properly secured in a child safety seat whenever they ride in a vehicle.
This story was originally published December 14, 2021 at 4:29 PM.
