Dallas

Police: Man Steals Backhoe; Kills Woman In Crash And Flees

The male suspect was said to be bleeding as he fled from the scene

Dallas Police have released a sketch of the man suspected of stealing a backhoe, driving the wrong way down Stemmons Freeway and crashing into an SUV, killing the passenger and injuring the driver.

Police say the man stole the equipment from the city of Dallas Water Department at Walnut Hill Lane and Shady Trail at about 5 a.m. on November 27th.

Less than an hour later, at 5:46 a.m., the man drove the stolen backhoe southbound in the northbound lanes of I-35E Stemmons Freeway, according to police.

The backhoe drove head-on into a GMC Envoy driven by 22-year-old Diana Mejicanos in the 9900 block of N. Stemmons Freeway, officers said.

Elizabeth Suarez, 22, a passenger in Mejicanos' vehicle, was killed on impact, according to police. Dallas Fire-Rescue transported Mejicanos to Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Police said the male suspect fled the scene on foot. 

Dallas Police released a sketch of the man, hoping it will lead to his arrest.

He is described as a white or Latin male, in his mid to late 30s. He was wearing a red and black baseball cap with a Chicago Bulls logo, with "Windy City" on the outside. He also had on white shoes, dark pants and a light colored shirt.

Police said he will most likely have an injury to his head or face.

Witnesses told Dallas police that the backhoe was driving the wrong way without any lights on. Two construction workers pulled over and moved the backhoe off the highway to prevent any other vehicles from running into it.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Eric Knight at 214-671-0020.

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