TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – When a truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into several vehicles Saturday on Interstate 20, three generations of the McKellar family were killed.
The crash that shut down the interstate killed 79-year-old Billy McKellar of Tyler, 52-year-old Zabar McKellar of Ft. Worth, 45-year-old Krishaun McKellar of Ft. Worth, and 16-year-old Kason McKellar of Ft. Worth. 20-year-old Evan McKellar is the only current survivor from his family’s vehicle.
“You just can’t even fathom what that means when you say it out loud,” said attorney John Nohinek with Witherite Law Group in Dallas.
Nohinek represents the mother’s side of the family, who are all from Dallas/Forth Worth. The family is in pursuit of not only finding justice for the last remaining member of the family who is fighting for her life in the ICU, but also are hoping to change the rules of the roads.
“To my understanding, the father’s side is from your area,” said Nohinek in a video chat with KLTV.
He was right, and you don’t have to go far down Walton Road in Tyler to find people who know the McKellar family.
“Oh yes, he is my buddy, we went to Emmett J. Scott together and we were both in the military. I think that’s why he and I continued to be friends up until he moved away a few months ago” said Von D. Mosely of Tyler.
Mosely says that since the 1960’s, he and BIlly McKellar were like two peas in a pod.
“When I found out it was him in that crash, I just thought to myself, I’m really grateful for the time I got to spend with him,” said Mosley.
Next door is Pat Smith Dews who says she’s also known McKellar since they were both very young.
“His momma and daddy lived right here, but that house is no longer there. And tucked away in the woods there is where Billyjoe has lived for as long as I can remember, but that house hasn’t always been there,” said Dews.
Dews and Mosely say they are praying for the family.
“I heard he was in town for a funeral on Saturday and I was hoping he was going to come by the house, but like I said, I am just grateful of the time I got with him. When we was young, and when we were old,” said Mosley.
Witherite Law Group says right now the firm is in a crucial position to get us much information and data collected against the driver of the semi that fell asleep at the wheel.
“While the family mourns, we are there for them, but we take this time to get as much done as possible. We will need it. These insurance companies and truck companies will fight tooth and nail to keep from having to pay any damages,” said Nohinek.
Billy McKellar was first cousins with the husband of Dr. Shirley McKellar of Tyler, who says the family was at a funeral Saturday before heading home to DFW.
“We are having a really tough time with it. It’s hard to process,” said McKellar.
The driver of the semi, Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni, 27, of Kissimmee, Florida, is charged with five counts of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is in the Kaufman County Jail. The investigation is ongoing.
“If we have what we think we have, we have a good case to bring justice for this family. We are going to work hard on this and get to work. There’s clearly several violations that could have been a result of this horrific situation,” said Nohinek.
Nohinek says the family of Evan McKellar are asking for privacy and prayers at this time and have not disclosed yet how she is doing.
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