LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Mario Carrillo did not have his truck in park before he was out the door and running toward a burning crash on the interstate.
Carrillo was driving to his mother’s house on July 23 when he spotted smoke on I-27.
Police say Oscar Hernandez Sotelo Jr. was driving the wrong way before he crashed into two vehicles. He, a 2-year-old in his car, and a 60-year-old woman in another vehicle were killed in the crash. Sisters Aaliyah and Alexis Wallace, a 3-year-old passenger in his car and a 24-year-old in another car were also seriously injured.
Carrillo said he did not see Aaliyah and Alexis until he got closer to the scene.
“One was already out of the truck and I believe the other one was trying to get out and we just kind of saw them both and said, well, let’s get them out, because they saw the truck starting to get on fire,” Carrillo said.
Carrillo was not alone. Sunny Davila and Brandon Bergaro also stopped and helped pull the sisters away from the burning vehicle, keeping them calm until EMS arrived.
All three men later went to the hospital to check on Aaliyah and Alexis.
“I think it was just a personal thing to see the — because I think the last image I had of them was the fear in their eyes, the fear in their face,” Carrillo said.
Carrillo’s wife had been injured in a crash as well. He brought her and a cross to the hospital to encourage the sisters.
Aaliyah and Alexis said their gratitude deepened when they learned Carrillo has been on dialysis for four years and is waiting on a kidney donor.
“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. To save us,” Aaliyah said.
“Absolutely, and we can’t thank them enough. We cannot thank them enough,” Alexis said.
The sisters said they now want to help Carrillo the way he helped them.
“He saved us, we want to save him,” Alexis said.
Carrillo said he remains hopeful he’ll find a donor.
“I’m hoping, now, with the grace of God, I’ll find one here pretty soon,” he said.
Carrillo said his thoughts are with the families of those who died.
“They got up just like a normal day, I’m guessing, just like I did,” Carrillo said. “So I think it’s just to be grateful and you never know when God calls, we’re ready to answer. We should be ready to answer.”
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