Royse City student's car stolen after stopping to help accident victims

A Royse City High School student who stopped to help the victims of a car accident wound up having his own car stolen by the driver of the wrecked vehicle.

Jerry Ramirez, 18, was on his way home with friends Friday just before midnight southbound on FM 548 about a mile south of I-30 in Royse City. The Rockwall County Sheriff's office says Delyn Stampf, 29, was behind the wheel of a red pickup when he lost control of the vehicle.

A male passenger was thrown from the truck and two other passengers inside also injured. Ramirez didn't think twice about stopping to help.

“We ran over there. By that time, I was on the phone with 911 explaining where we were, what happened and our backs were to both vehicles,” Ramirez said.

Then he heard something unexpected -- the engine of his black Chrysler 300 start.

“I tried to motion for him to stop but he accelerated. I was able to move out of the way luckily,” Ramirez said.

Police said a deputy on the way to the scene intercepted Stampf, who lead him on an eight-minute chase into Quinlan where he crashed and died from his injuries.

Police say Stampf's injured passengers in the truck told investigators they'd been out drinking.

“The accident investigators are looking at it as an intoxication assault situation,” said Capt. Greg Welch, Rockwall County Sheriff's Office.

Ramirez, a high school senior who wants to be an electrician, said despite his vehicle being totaled and insurance declining to cover it -- he still feels for Stampf’s family. He also wouldn’t hesitate to help someone else in need, again.

“I think I'd still pull over -- just make sure I get my keys out of the car this time. But I'm pretty sure I'd do the same thing over again,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez vehicle GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/ba5spy-jerrys-car