As summer traffic picks up across Texas, a grieving family is taking legal action after a deadly crash that rocked Northwest El Paso earlier this month. Residents in the area may recall the fiery collision on May 8 that left one man dead and several others injured. Now, the family of the deceased is demanding accountability.
Lawsuit Claims Driver Was Distracted and Speeding
The law firm Kherkher Garcia, LLP has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Scott Jenkins, whose father, Aldo Jenkins, was killed in the crash. Jenkins was a passenger in a yellow tow truck when it slammed into multiple vehicles and caught fire on Loop 375.
The suit claims that the driver, Alfredo Campos, was speeding and distracted by an electronic device at the time of the crash. Campos is now listed as a defendant in the wrongful death lawsuit.
The lawsuit doesn’t stop with Campos. Sheffield Towing Service, Campos’ employer, is also named as a defendant. The family claims the company failed to train, supervise, and monitor their driver properly and did not enforce safety protocols about mobile device use while operating commercial vehicles.
In a statement, the law firm said Sheffield showed “gross negligence” in how it hired and retained Campos, who was driving a 1994 Kenworth tow truck while hauling a tractor-trailer at the time of the incident.
“This tragedy could have been prevented if basic safety standards were followed,” the firm said.
Second Lawsuit Filed by Injured Crash Victim
Another lawsuit related to the May 8 crash was filed by Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C. on behalf of Alfredo Sifuentes, a 54-year-old New Mexico man who suffered severe and permanent injuries.
The suit accuses both Campos and Sheffield Towing of violating federal safety regulations and Texas transportation laws. The legal team is seeking over $1 million in damages for medical costs, lost income, and emotional suffering.
“Commercial trucking companies have a legal duty to hire, train, and monitor safe drivers,” said attorney James Tawney. “When they don’t, lives are put at risk.”
What We Know About the May 8 Crash
According to El Paso Police, the crash happened just after 6 a.m. when a white semi-truck and black trailer became disabled on Loop 375 near North Desert Road. Campos, driving the tow truck, was called in to remove the vehicles but failed to slow down at the intersection.
The truck barreled into several vehicles, causing a fiery chain-reaction crash. Jenkins, inside the tow truck, did not survive.
Police say the investigation is still ongoing.
Stay informed and follow us for more updates on this developing legal case and other safety concerns in El Paso.
This article was written by John Deluca. AI was used lightly for grammar and formatting, but the ideas, words, and edits are all mine.
