On March 26, a tractor-trailer being operated by New York resident, Saul A. Carrera, 60, collided with a van that was stopped on the side of Interstate 81 in Sullivan County, Tennessee, killing four people and seriously injuring another.
The five men were working on repairing a tire when struck by Carrera’s Peterbilt tractor-trailer, according to the Kingsport police. Carrera’s vehicle then sideswiped a Chevrolet Express van.
The tractor-trailer reportedly drove a short distance after the collision before jackknifing and ultimately overturning, according to the police.
The police statement says that the victims of the accident were Jose Urbano Serrano Ramos, 25, of Crossville, Alabama; Jesse James Delacruz, 49, of Fayetteville, Tennessee; a man who was not identified; and a young man from Crossville who is 17 years old.
Another 17-year-old male from Gadsden, Alabama, was taken in critical condition by first responders to the hospital. The police say that his condition has since been upgraded to stable.
Police say there was reason to believe that Carrera was operating the vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, based on the officers’ observations and the data gathered at the scene.
Along with charges of aggravated reckless assault, operating a commercial vehicle while intoxicated, felony reckless endangerment, and failing to use reasonable care, Carrera is accused of four counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication.
Carrera was injured in the collision and was taken to the hospital for medical attention. He was held in custody in the Sullivan County Jail after his release from the hospital, and showed up for a preliminary hearing on April 4 in court.
In addition to the testimony of two Kingsport police officers, the dash cam video from the tractor-trailer was shown. Carrera will reappear in court on June 9.