1 killed, 7 injured in Bedford freeway wreck

A Dallas van driver faces numerous charges after a weekend wreck on the Airport Freeway in which a woman was killed and seven people were injured, police said Monday.

All occupants of the van were ejected when it hit a freeway barrier about 4:45 a.m. Sunday, overturned and caught fire, police said.

Lynker Kabera, 23, was pronounced dead at 5:29 a.m. Sunday at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office reported.

Seven people were taken to area hospitals. Three of them — Sandra Niyibizi, Christella Kajyambere and Anny Igihozo — were reported in serious condition at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth.

Another three — Blanche Gahozo, Ornella Mugabo and Robert Masunzu — were at Texas Health Harris Methodist. Gahozo was in critical condition, and Mugabo and Masunzu were in good condition Monday night, a hospital spokeswoman said.

It could not be learned where the seventh person was taken.

The wreck occurred in the eastbound TexExpress toll lanes of Airport Freeway. The van hit a barrier at the Texas 121 and Texas 183 split near Central Drive.

The van overturned and caught fire, police said.

“It appears they were returning to Dallas from a graduation party in Fort Worth,” Smith said.

Police identified the driver as Vivence Bugilimfura, 23, of Dallas.

“He was arrested at the scene and taken to jail,” Bedford police Lt. David Smith said Monday in an email.

“He later claimed injury and was taken to the hospital, but was medically cleared from the hospital shortly after his arrival and was returned to jail.”

Bugilimfura faces charges of intoxication manslaughter, intoxication assault and driving while intoxicated, police said.

Bugilimfura remained in the Bedford Jail on Monday with bail set at $250,000.

Staff writer Monica S. Nagy contributed to this report.

This story was originally published December 15, 2014 at 11:26 AM with the headline "1 killed, 7 injured in Bedford freeway wreck."