Dallas police are searching for a hit-and-run driver allegedly responsible for critically injuring a young couple in South Oak Cliff last week.
Alan Tienda and Sandra Sanchez continue to be hospitalized for their critical injuries sustained on October 13 when another driver allegedly crashed into them at the intersection of East Kiest Boulevard and South Marsalis Avenue.
According to Dallas police, the driver of a gray 2012 Ford F-150 FX pickup was traveling westbound on East Kiest Boulevard and ran a red light. After the crash, the driver fled the scene.
The police did not specify whether the vehicle had been stolen or if its paper tag had been fraudulent.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, Texas authorities are phasing out temporary paper tags over the next two years after widespread illegal use. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles tried to shore up the security of paper tags by adding a watermark, changing the font, and other controls after fraudsters across the country were fabricating and selling counterfeits.
Fake plates are typically seen on stolen vehicles. Auto theft is a raging problem in Dallas, recently prompting the city council to approve $1.4 million for a new police task force dedicated to trying to reduce auto thefts. In fact, data from the City’s crime analytics dashboard showed a 41% increase year over year as of October 19, from 10,671 to 15,050 incidences.
Downtown Dallas has seen the brunt of the surge, especially when compared to the incidents of auto theft seen in neighboring Fort Worth’s downtown area, which is reportedly patrolled by a specialized police unit and private security guards.
In terms of the South Oak Cliff hit-and-run, family members of the married couple are eager to see the pickup truck driver identified and held accountable.
“Right now, my brother Alan Tienda has a broken side of the hip bone, right side of his face,” explained Samantha Lopez, according to NBC 5 DFW. “I just want justice for them because these two people are good people. They had a lot of plans. They have a 2-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy. They had plans.”
Medical expenses are beginning to pile up as both victims have required surgeries for internal bleeding and more. A GoFundMe established by Lopez had raised $2,860 for the couple as of October 19. Their sons and two dogs are currently being taken care of by the family.
The incident occurred in District 4, which is represented by Council Member and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold.
The Dallas Police Department has been laboring to adequately police this and other city districts amid an officer shortage. It currently maintains a force of fewer than 3,200 officers despite a city analysis recommending it needs around 4,000 to maintain public safety citywide.