Dallas police officer dies after his SUV is hit by wrong-way driver, tractor-trailer
Dallas police Officer Jacob Arellano, 25, died Wednesday morning at a hospital after he was critically injured in an accident caused by a wrong-way driver shortly before midnight Tuesday night, police said.
According to a Dallas Police Department blog post, the officer was on his way to work and driving in the middle lane of three lanes on northbound Spur 408 near West Kiest Boulevard. A sedan going the wrong way hit the front left of his SUV.
As a result of the head-on collision, Arellano’s vehicle was pushed into the right lane, where it was hit by a tractor-trailer, police said. The SUV rolled several times before stopping on the right shoulder of the road.
The officer was taken to a local hospital and was initially reported in critical condition, and the wrong-way driver was taken to a local hospital in serious condition. The tractor-trailer driver wasn’t injured.
According to an early Wednesday morning tweet by Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia, the officer was “fighting in critical condition.”
Later Wednesday morning, police said that Arellano died at the hospital.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share that, after a brave fight, @DallasPD Officer Jacob Arellano died this morning as a result of his injuries sustained in the head on collision,” Garcia tweeted. “Please keep Jacob, his son, his girlfriend, and his family in your prayers. Rest easy brother…”
Police haven’t released the names of the other drivers involved in the crash. The preliminary investigation has determined the wrong-way driver may have been intoxicated, police said in a news release.
Arellano had worked for the Dallas Police Department since June 2019. He was assigned to the Northwest Patrol Division, first watch.
Funeral arrangements are pending. Arellano is survived by his parents, girlfriend and infant child. He is also survived by his brother, who also is a Dallas police officer.
WFAA-TV reported that all northbound lanes of traffic were shut down while police investigated the collision.
This story was originally published October 12, 2022 at 8:31 AM.
