Fatality Crash - Report #2025-01320067
Published on September 29, 2025
By Arlington Police Department
The Arlington Police Department has made an arrest in connection to a fatality crash that occurred in May along I-30.
Following a thorough investigation, APD Accident Investigators obtained a warrant for the arrest of 51-year-old Jose De La Luz Cadena-Marquez on one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide. On September 25, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol made contact with Mr. Cadena-Marquez and took him into custody on the warrant. He is currently being held in El Paso.
In the early morning hours of May 12, 2025, officers responded to a crash in the eastbound lanes of I-30 near Highway 360 involving an 18-wheeler Mr. Cadena-Marquez was driving and a 2023 Hyundai Elantra. At the time, Mr. Cadena-Marquez told officers the Elantra was stopped in the main highway lanes with no lights on, preventing him from seeing it. Additionally, he said there was traffic next to him and behind him that prevented him from taking evasive maneuvers, resulting in him rear-ending the Elantra.
The driver of the Elantra, 22-year-old James Gabehart, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Accident Investigators later obtained and reviewed video from nearby traffic cameras and the 18-wheeler’s dashboard camera, which contradicted Mr. Cadena-Marquez’s claims. The footage shows the Elantra’s brake lights were illuminated at the time of the crash and that there was no traffic next to or behind the 18-wheeler that would have prevented Mr. Cadena-Marquez from trying to avoid the collision. It also revealed that Mr. Cadena-Marquez did not attempt to slow down prior to the crash.
After consulting with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, the decision was made to pursue criminal charges in the case.
ORIGINAL RELEASE
The Arlington Police Department is investigating a fatal early morning crash that occurred along the eastbound lanes of the I-30 Freeway.
At approximately 2:23 a.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, officers responded to the 2600 block of East I-30 after receiving reports of a major crash involving a passenger car and an 18-wheeler.
The preliminary investigation indicates a red Hyundai Elantra was stopped in the center lane of travel without its lights on for an unknown reason. An 18-wheeler traveling in the same direction was unable to take evasive action due to another vehicle in an adjacent lane and was unable to stop in time—resulting in a collision with the rear of the Elantra.
The driver of the Hyundai, a 22-year-old man, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Officers located open containers of alcoholic beverages inside the vehicle.
The driver of the 18-wheeler remained on scene and cooperated with investigators. No charges are expected to be filed.
Eastbound I-30 was reduced to one lane for several hours while officers investigated the crash and cleared the roadway.
The investigation is ongoing. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the deceased once next of kin have been notified.