LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Two sisters who were seriously injured in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 27 in late July say bystanders pulled them from their burning truck before flames could reach them.
Alexis and Aaliyah Wallace were among four people seriously hurt in the crash. Lubbock police said Oscar Sotelo Jr. was driving the wrong way on I-27 near 66th Street when he struck two vehicles. Sotelo, a young child in his car, and a woman in another vehicle died in the crash.
The sisters had just signed a lease to move in together and were on their way to pick up furniture on July 23 when the collision occurred. Alexis, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said she tried to swerve but the oncoming car struck their truck head-on. Both vehicles caught fire on the interstate.
Alexis broke both feet and her neck. Aaliyah, a Texas Tech student and scoliosis advocate, suffered several fractures and a shattered heel.
The sisters said multiple bystanders, including Mario Carrillo, Sunny Davila and Brandon Bergaro, rushed to help before emergency crews arrived. One man bottomed out his truck before getting to them. Carrillo, who is waiting on a kidney donation, ran to the scene and helped pull them out.
“All of them have kids. They’ll have wives, they have families. And they were willing to run up to the truck that could have blown up to grab us,” Aaliyah said.
The sisters said the men and their families have since visited them and invited them into their lives.
“They’re like, y’all are ours now,” Aaliyah said. “They’re like, we’ve nicknamed them. They’re like, y’all are — you’re now part of our families.”
Since the crash, the sisters said support has come from online fundraisers and in-person events, including an enchilada plate fundraiser Tuesday night at Rachael’s Restaurant.
“You see the beauty in the community coming together — family, friends, strangers, our guardian angels, as we call them — just coming out in the masses to support such a tragic accident,” Alexis said. “And it’s for everybody that was involved.”
Their mother, Kimberly Burk, said she is proud of how her daughters have responded.
“Just their attitude and their outlook on it. And instead of being angry and mad at the situation, they’re reaching out and they’re praying for people and they’re telling their story and they’re encouraging people,” Burk said.
Alexis remains hospitalized. Aaliyah has moved to a rehabilitation hospital. The sisters said they are leaning on each other through the process.
“Her journey’s going to be a little longer than mine, but I’ll be there every step of the way,” Aaliyah said.
To donate to the Wallace sisters’ recovery click here.
There’s also a GoFundMe for the family of the 2-year-old who died in the crash, and one for Jairon Foster, 24, who was also seriously hurt.
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