Witness recalls last week's 'horrific' truck-on-car crash in west Detroit

3 killed when truck falls onto small car at Plymouth Road, Southfield Freeway in Detroit

DETROIT – Jesse Dupree sat and watched the horror that was the triple-fatal truck vs. car crash on Friday at Plymouth Road and the Southfield Freeway.

Dupree's version of the crash is the polar opposite to the original police story.

"I can't stop thinking about it now. It's just the most horrific thing I've ever seen. I've seen some bad things in Detroit but this is really bad," said Dupree. "I had seen the lady turn the corner. The semi tried to make the light because the light had turned red on his side, and he turned to keep from hitting her. He didn't hit her, but when he got to the corner he jumped the curb and that's when it flipped over, right on top of the car."

Dupree's cellphone video shows the crash before emergency personnel arrived. He said he tried to help the victims in the car but there was little he could do.

However, what's most disturbing was his description of the truck driver's reaction.

"It was a senior citizen, it was an old lady, I said, 'We gotta get her out.' He just totally ignored us. Now the guy he was riding with, his passenger, he was totally upset about it and he was trying to help us to get the door open and everything. The other guy didn't even care. He never said a word," said Dupree.

How to help crash victims' family

Meanwhile, at Starter's Bar and Grill, where the late Tracy Thomas worked, they're getting ready to hold a fundraiser on Friday for her, her mother and uncle.

The Thomas family cannot afford three funerals. They have set up this GoFundMe for donations.


Tracy Thomas


About the Author:

Rod Meloni is an Emmy Award-winning Business Editor on Local 4 News and a Certified Financial Plannerâ„¢ Professional.