Affidavit: Teen involved in deadly 18-wheeler crash said he did not have valid license

Jose Osvaldo Sanchez, 18, was arrested by Mission police on a charge of criminal negligent homicide. Sanchez was arrested in connection to a crash where an 18-wheeler drove into an empty home after losing control on the expressway, killing the driver Anastacio Martinez Jr.

At 9:01 a.m. June 29, a Mission police officer was dispatched to the area of 2605 W. IH 2 in reference to the fatal accident. When he arrived, he saw a red 2013 Fiat passenger car with heavy damage facing oncoming traffic on the frontage road.

The officer saw the driver, identified as Sanchez, walking away from the vehicle. Sanchez told the officer he was "behind another slower vehicle," and had turned on his left turn signal to change lanes to the middle lane.

"Mr. Sanchez said he looked to his left and used his left side mirror prior to changing lanes and did not see any vehicles on the lane he was planning to move to," the affidavit stated.

Sanchez said he changed lanes, and was struck by someone, causing his vehicle to roll over.

An investigator followed up with Sanchez at the hospital, where Sanchez told him he was driving to work. Sanchez added that both he, and the other vehicle, were travelling at about 40 miles per hour and that he was running late for work.

Sanchez said again that he activated his turn signal, waited three seconds before changing lanes, and then felt the impact. Sanchez was asked if he has a valid Texas Driver License, to which he replied he did not, the document stated.

Two days later, investigators watched video from Junior's Tire Shop near the crash site, which showed Sanchez's red Fiat on the outside lane and the tractor trailer in the middle lane. The investigator noted seeing a pickup truck approximately 80 to 100 yards in front of Sanchez, but no other vehicles or debris were seen in front of his vehicle, which would have caused him to change lanes.

At this point, investigators determined that Sanchez had changed lanes unsafely.

The following day, investigators watched the tractor trailer's dashcam, "where it shows that the red Fiat drove out of its lane and into the Freightliner's lane of travel causing the crash," the affidavit stated.

Police also reviewed the GPS monitoring device, which showed the tractor was travelling at a constant speed of 66 mph prior to the crash. The dashcam video showed the Fiat travelling at a lower speed than the 18-wheeler and "weaving within its lane" prior to changing lanes, the document added. The dashcam also showed that the Fiat activated its turn signal.

"The Fiat then changes lanes onto the middle line, still driving at a lower speed than the Freightliner causing it to get struck by the front fender and front right tire of the tractor.

"The action of changing lanes performed by the Fiat driver were not consistent with an experienced, licensed, driver and were unnecessary as there was an open lane of travel in front of him. The actions of the Fiat driver cause a substantial and justifiable risk and the failure to perceive that risk as contrary a reasonable and ordinary driver would make as it changed lanes maintaining the same speed," the affidavit stated.

The 18-wheeler then lost control, leaving the roadway and ultimately crashing into an empty home. First responders made every effort to extract the driver but were unsuccessful, the document details. It was later learned that Martinez died upon impact from injuries sustained in the crash.

A doctor ruled Martinez's cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries, with possible mechanical asphyxia.