Update:
Revised at 3:50 p.m. to include additional information from the the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department.
‘My husband is in heaven’: Wife of good Samaritan killed in Dallas crash speaks out
Donald Collins, 25, was fatally struck by an intoxicated driver early Saturday on Interstate 30, authorities say.
By Allie Kelly
Elizabeth Collins misses her best friend.
Donald Collins — “Trey” to his family — was a man of faith and a loving dad to their 2-year-old daughter, Nola.
The 25-year-old always texted her when he was on his way home. And, if she called, he always picked up before the second ring.
Early Saturday, she woke up alone. And when she dialed, her call went to voicemail.
Donald Collins had been fatally struck by a car on Interstate 30.
Just after 2 a.m., a red tow truck hit a minivan on I-30 and Second Avenue, east of downtown Dallas, causing the minivan to spin into oncoming traffic. The tow truck drove off, authorities said.
Donald Collins, who was on his way home from work as a security guard, got out of his car to help the passengers in the minivan, who had injuries that weren’t life-threatening.
As he was helping them, a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe struck him and the minivan. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
The driver of the Tahoe, 33-year-old Irma Nelly Martinez, has since been arrested, and authorities believe she was intoxicated at the time of the crash. She faces charges including intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault with a vehicle.
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department announced Wednesday afternoon that the tow truck has been located, but its driver has not been identified. The investigation is ongoing.
More than 1,000 Texans were killed in drunken-driving crashes last year, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
“A mother and child [are] still walking on this earth because my husband was selfless,” Elizabeth Collins said at a news conference Wednesday, surrounded by family members.
She said she forgives Martinez and hopes she finds faith. And she still encourages people to stop and help others, just like her husband did.
Donald Collins’ father, Donald Collins Sr., said his son is a hero.
Donald Collins had enlisted in the Marines, just like his father and grandfather. He was a hard worker — and someone that everybody loved.
“We’ll miss him, but our hearts are at peace because he lived a life that was pleasing to God,” his father said.
The love and joy Donald Collins’ family has seen from the community has been overwhelming, Elizabeth Collins said. She knows that her loved ones — and her faith — will continue to be a support system as she raises Nola.
“I have no doubt, no doubt, that my husband is in heaven,” she said.
A GoFundMe account set up for the Collins family has raised more than $15,000.