In the early hours of Wednesday, January 1st, Mesquite Fire and Police Departments responded to a fatal crash in the eastbound lanes of I-20 near FM 740, just over the Kaufman County line.
Authorities reported that multiple individuals were changing a tire on the shoulder of the highway when a driver traveling at high speed struck them. Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others sustained injuries and were transported to the hospital. The four victims were identified as 47-year-old Arturo Martinez Gonzalez, 19-year-old Anthony Hernandez, 19-year-old Mario Guajardo De La Paz, and a 15-year-old male.
The driver responsible for the crash, 35-year-old Basilio Mares Ortiz, was arrested on-site and has been charged with four counts of Intoxication Manslaughter.
Eastbound lanes of I-20 remain closed as investigators work to determine the details of the incident.
