Jose Aguilar Renteria Killed in Mesquite Truck Accident
Ulises Hernandez charged with DWI after 18-wheeler rear-ended on Interstate 635
Jose Aguilar Renteria, 36, of Dallas, was killed in a crash involving an 18-wheeler on Interstate 635 near North Gross Road on Sept. 9, according to the Mesquite Police Department.
The driver of the 18-wheeler, 30-year-old Ulises Mendez Hernandez of Mexico, was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated. Investigators determined a white Alfa Romeo sedan crashed into the trailer of the slow-moving semi-truck in the northbound lanes around 3:17 a.m. The driver of the sedan, Renteria, died at the scene.
The department's Traffic Unit is continuing to investigate the fatal collision.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 39,393 commercial motor vehicle crashes statewide in 2024, resulting in 608 deaths.
Why was the 18-wheeler moving slowly on Interstate 635?
While authorities investigate the exact speed of the semi-truck and the driver's level of impairment, families of victims killed in commercial vehicle crashes face complex legal hurdles.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Impaired driving remains one of the most dangerous forces on any roadway, slowing reaction time and clouding judgment when split second decisions matter most. Crashes involving alcohol or drugs often produce catastrophic outcomes because impaired drivers fail to brake, swerve, or respond before impact."
"A legal team can request toxicology reports, review police findings, and coordinate with investigators to build a picture protecting grieving families," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
Commercial trucking companies typically dispatch their own investigators to crash scenes immediately to build a defense, often before the victim's family has been notified.
Texas wrongful death statute
Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.001, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Texas applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium, funeral expenses, and mental anguish.
"Speed differences between colliding cars heavily influence occupant cabin damage and resulting injury severity. Detailed vehicle inspections reveal whether safety systems operated correctly during the collision," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "Legal counsel guides grieving families through complex claims processes, consults automotive safety specialists, and evaluates total long term financial consequences accurately."