DALLAS — Family members said 51-year-old Jose Martin Tamez-Prado was hard-working and willing to do anything for his family. It was not only how he is remembered, but also what he did in his last moments.
Dallas Fire Rescue said Sunday afternoon, they responded to a call of someone driving into a pond near 2nd Avenue and Bruton Road in South Dallas. When they arrived, Dallas Fire said their swift water crews jumped in the water and pulled out Tamez-Prado who was unresponsive. After performing CPR, he was taken to the hospital where he died.
Tamez-Prado’s son, Miguel, could not speak on camera but tells WFAA his father was on his way to send money to his mother who is ill in Mexico.
When Tamez-Prado did not return, Miguel said he went out looking for him and ran into emergency crews. That is when he learned his father was taken to the hospital. Miguel said his dad lost control of the car before going into the water.
A 2021 Google Maps photo shows how the area normally looks.
After last week’s storms and heavy rain, it is now covered with water.
Parts of the road does have guardrails, but where Tamez-Prado’s car went in does not.
The city of Dallas traffic unit said they have not had any speed complaints in that area; however, WFAA has filed an open records request to see if the stretch has been an issue in the past.
Miguel and is family are working to send his father’s remains back to Mexico. They plan to start a GoFundMe to help with the process.