Dad checking on 18-month-old after crash is killed when truck hits his SUV, cops say

A driver involved in a car crash went to check on his 18-month-old in the back seat when he was killed in a second crash, Tennessee authorities said.

Jacabo Hernandez, 29, flew through a window and died, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a July 5 news release.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. on July 4, Hernandez was driving a 28-year-old woman and their toddler through the heavy rain in a Honda CRV when he lost control of the car, police said.

He hit the median wall of Interstate 40, and the SUV came to a stop in a travel lane of the highway, police said.

He got in the back seat to check on the toddler when a Dodge Ram pickup truck hit the back of Hernandez’s SUV, sending him through a rear window, according to police.

He died at the scene, Tennessee officials said.

Hernandez’s passengers had non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. A spokesperson with the police department confirmed Hernandez and the woman were the boy’s parents.

Two passengers of the pickup truck also had non-life-threatening injuries, while the driver was uninjured, police said.

What to do if you’re in a car crash

More than 5 million traffic accidents were reported by police in 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“No one wants to get into a car crash. But being prepared and knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives, reduce injuries and make the claims process simpler and easier,” the Insurance Information Institute said on its website.

Here are 10 things you should do if you’re in a car crash:

• Pull the vehicle over to a safe place on the side of the road if possible.

• Assess any possible injuries and make sure everyone is OK.

• Call 911 if anyone is injured.

• Assess the car damage and take photos if possible.

• Don’t leave the scene.

• If the vehicle involved was unattended, leave a note with your name and phone number.

• Note the names and contact information of everyone in the crash, the makes and models of the cars, and the location of the crash.

• Ask other drivers for a license, car registration and insurance ID.

• Report the crash to police or highway patrol.

• File an accident report even if police can’t come to the scene, and notify your insurance shortly after.

This story was originally published July 5, 2024 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Dad checking on 18-month-old after crash is killed when truck hits his SUV, cops say."