Murder on the Highway

It was a story that reminded me of why I carry a gun. Even now, nobody knows why Nick Salinas took the lives of the highway travelers who stopped to assist him.

At 2:05AM Sunday morning, Nick Salinas wrecked his automobile on Interstate 35E near downtown Dallas. At approximately 2:13, Robert Langston stopped his vehicle and approached Salinas to help. Salinas shot him in the head at close range. Moments earlier, a man named Bob Hope had tried to assist Salinas, but after Salinas stuck a shotgun in his face, Hope escaped. Mr. Hope was calling 911 on his cellphone as the shootings began.

Next, about 2:15AM, Barry Smith stopped just South of Langston's vehicle, and unknowingly walked towards the killer. Salinas shot him at about 40 feet.

About that same time, a vehicle carrying four men, including Jesus Reyes Terrazas, passed the scene. The men thought they saw an accident and returned to help. At 2:18AM, Salinas fired two shots at the four men as they approached. One blast struck Terrazas in the head, killing him. One of the men with Terrazas had a concealed handgun license, as well as his firearm. He drew his gun and returned fire. It is unclear whether his return fire found it's mark.

The first police officers arrived on the scene at 2:20AM. Cpl. Jerry Poston and his partner knew they had an accident and a potential shooting when they rolled up. Poston approached a wounded Barry Smith to render aid, but before he could reach Smith, Salinas shot him twice. Cpl. Poston struggled to breathe, his neck, face scalp and knee perforated by shotgun pellets.

Four victims lay bleeding in the sultry Texas night near his wrecked blue Nissan when Salinas turned his gun on himself and took his own life. Robert Langston was pronounced dead at the scene. Jesus Terrazas died shortly after his arrival at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. David Smith and Jerry Poston ultimately survived the killer's onslaught.

Why did Salinas kill? I'll leave that to the psychoanalysts. My friend, Phlegmfatale, was hoping I would analyze this insane orgy of murder, and perhaps offer a few pointers on how to avoid a similar fate. Those who survived lived by chance, because they were not targeted by the killer. They were able to escape into the darkness. It is tragic that Mr. Hope was unable to warn the men who arrived shortly after him. Alas, I am reminded of Craig, and the only advice I can offer is drive on by and report the accident on your cell phone.

I know that I could never do that myself. I always stop at accidents. Always. Even when my daughter is along for the ride, I stop. I feel it is my duty as a nurse. I do carry a gun. When responding to an unknown emergency, I am most vulnerable.

This is a situation that merits contemplation and planning. One thing is certain though. The only way one can remove the threat to oneself is to drive on by and alert authorities of the accident. Still, someone must be the first on the scene. If I can prevent a death, that someone should be me. I will not give up the way I choose to live my life because of the nameless bitch that killed Craig, or murderous wastes of oxygen like Salinas.