A young Duncanville father lost his life late on the night of September 3 after a suspected intoxicated driver traveling the wrong way on Highway 67 slammed into his vehicle just before midnight. The victim, Kenan Ellis, had just turned 29 years old in August.
According to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, the wrong-way driver was operating a vehicle reported stolen out of Irving at the time of the collision. Ellis was returning home with two cousins from a music video shoot for rapper BigXthaPlug when the crash occurred.
Both cousins survived but sustained serious injuries and remained hospitalized following the collision. Family members noted that the group was less than five minutes from home when their lives were changed forever.
Ellis leaves behind two young children. His uncle Xavier Hicks described him as a devoted son, brother, friend and father who was beginning to step into his full potential. “He was just slowly coming into his own and that’s all I’ve been waiting on to see him becoming the man he was going to be and he was slowly getting there” Hicks said.
Hicks expressed grief and disbelief over the senseless loss saying the accused driver and car thief stole something irreplaceable from their family. Despite his pain Hicks said he refuses to carry hatred in his heart and instead hopes the man responsible for his nephew’s death will one day find redemption.
Authorities arrested 29-year-old Alexander Nunez in connection with the deadly crash. He now faces charges of intoxication manslaughter, intoxication assault and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Nunez is currently being held in jail on a $110,000 bond.
Law enforcement also placed an immigration hold on Nunez after determining he is in the country illegally. The combination of charges reflects both the fatal outcome of the crash and the alleged theft of the vehicle used in the collision.
The Ellis family has launched a fundraising effort to provide financial support for the two children Kenan left behind. Those who knew him describe a young man who was growing into a responsible and caring individual whose life was cut far too short.
