Police release photo of 18-wheeler involved in hit-and-run of two UTD students
The search is still on for the driver of an 18-wheeler who was involved in a hit-and-run crash on I-35 that seriously injured two college students.
Initially, it was a single witness who told crash investigators that an 18-wheeler with an orange cab and white trailer caused the near fatal crash. Investigators immediately put that description out because that's all they had to go on.
After collecting surveillance video from up and down that portion of the I-35 corridor, detectives were able to build a timeline that tells a different story.
After an exhaustive collection of surveillance video from businesses near the American Airlines Center on I-35, investigators now believe that a white or gray colored cab and white trailer with writing on it is responsible for the hit-and-run crash two weeks ago that left two women critically injured.
“That little portion of the truck, and that's why the detective is having a heck of a time trying to figure out the writing on the side of the truck," said deputy Raul Reyna, with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department.
The crash happened on northbound I-35, near the Dallas North Tollway exit, just before 7 p.m. on Jan. 13. Investigators say the driver of the 18-wheeler made a dangerous lane change, which caused the multi-vehicle crash.
College roommates Kaylee Jensen and Cassandra Lizardi were critically injured, but the truck driver just kept driving north on I-35.
"Right here in this area, where you have the tractor meeting up with the trailer, we think that that is where the initial impact was that caused the damage on the right side of the vehicle," Reyna added.
Now, investigators want people to focus on the new description they have of the truck, and the damage it likely has.
"The right, rear of the cab or the middle of the trailer, somewhere in that area, is where we believe a lot of the damage would be on the tractor trailer," Reyna said.
Jensen was released from Parkland Hospital on Tuesday, but Lizardi will remain hospitalized for several more weeks.
Jensen's father is thankful both women survived, but says he thinks the driver who fled the scene needs to be held accountable.
"It's about what's right and what's wrong. And somebody being held accountable for what they did," Chris Jensen said.
MORE: 'Prove you’re not a coward': Victim's father asks Dallas I-35 hit-and-run driver to turn himself in
There were a lot of people out driving that night, and investigators are hoping with this new suspect vehicle information, someone may realize they saw something that will help find the person responsible.
There is still a $5,000 CrimeStopper reward for any information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible.