A Plano man who caused a fatal accident in a construction zone of the Dallas North Tollway three years ago has pleaded guilty. A judge will determine the punishment.
Terrelwin Jones, 33, was on his cell phone when he went speeding into a construction zone near Walnut Hill. Jones slammed into the back of a car driven by Neil Delaney. He was talking to his 16-year old son, Guy, at the time of the impact. The Jesuit High School soccer player was injured and died at a hospital a short time later.
During emotional testimony during the sentencing hearing, Delaney said in one instant he was talking about the traffic slowdown with his son, the next he was outside the car trying to come to grips with what happened.
“And the next thing I remember, I don’t know how many minutes later, I was outside the car, in a state where I didn’t know what had happened,” Delaney said. “I remember people around me talking to me. I didn’t have any recognition, no coherent words. Then I remember seeing Guy on the side of the road. People were tending to him.”
Delaney stayed with his son on the ride to the hospital and up to the moment he was pronounced dead.
One witness said Jones’ white Mercedes was a blur as it sped past him in the split second before the impact.
“I didn’t see any brake lights or anything, just the car plowed into the car in front of me,” said Thomas Sergeant.
State District Court Judge Lela Lawrence Mays will decide punishment. The manslaughter charge has a sentencing range of probation to 20-years in prison.
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