On May 6, 2023, at 1:00 PM, a collision occurred at the intersection of West Las Colinas Blvd. and the 300 block of the south service road of Spur 348 (W Northwest Hwy) in Irving, Dallas County. The vehicles involved were Unit 1, a tractor, Unit 2, trailer, and Unit 3, a passenger truck.
The passenger truck, driven by Abbas Jafarizad Fakhri, was traveling southbound on the 500 block of West Las Colinas Blvd. and was in the left turn lane to make an eastbound turn onto the 300 block of the south service road of Spur 348. Unit 3 proceeded to make the turn after receiving a green light.
The tractor towing the trailer was in the right lane and traveling eastbound on the 300 block of the south service road of Spur 348. The 18-wheeler ran the red light causing the passenger truck to collide with the back left underside of the trailer. The collision resulted in a broken forward axle on the trailer, rendering it disabled. Witnesses confirmed that the passenger truck had a green light, and the passenger truck ran the red light.
Abbas Jafarizad Fakhri, the driver of the passenger truck, sustained an incapacitating injury and was taken to Parkland Hospital for medical treatment. The driver of Semi was uninjured.
A commercial vehicle inspection revealed vehicle defects on the tractor, including an out-of-adjustment front right steering axle brake and an inoperable front left turn signal. Additionally, 1.4 grams of marijuana were found in the cab of the Semi. The driver of tractor trailer admitted to consuming THC marijuana the day prior but claimed to have consumed CBD only on the day of the crash. The driver’s logbook showed signs of falsification and non-compliance with hours-of-service regulations.
The owner of the carrier agreed to conduct a drug and alcohol test on the driver of the Semi and provide the results once obtained, addressing concerns about substance use. This collision emphasizes the importance of adhering to traffic signals, refraining from driving while impaired or drowsy, maintaining vehicle safety, and complying with regulations to ensure the well-being of all road users.