Sisters survive wrong-way crash on I-27, credit good Samaritans with saving their lives

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - Two sisters who were seriously injured in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 27 in late July say bystanders pulled them from their burning truck before flames could reach them. [KCBD 11]

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Two sisters credited bystanders with saving their lives after a fiery head-on collision on Interstate 27 in late July left them severely injured. Alexis and Aaliyah Wallace were among four people hurt when a driver traveling the wrong direction struck their vehicle near 66th Street on July 23. The crash claimed three lives, including the wrong-way driver and a passenger in another vehicle.

Alexis, who served in the U.S. Air Force, was behind the wheel when Oscar Sotelo Jr.'s car collided head-on with their truck. The sisters had been heading to retrieve furniture after recently signing a lease to establish their first home together. Both vehicles erupted in flames following the impact. Alexis sustained fractures to both feet and her neck, while Aaliyah, a student at Texas Tech who advocates for scoliosis awareness, endured multiple fractures and a severely damaged heel.

Three men—Mario Carrillo, Sunny Davila and Brandon Bergaro—rushed toward the burning vehicle before first responders arrived at the scene. Carrillo, who is currently awaiting a kidney transplant, was among those who helped extract the sisters from the truck. One rescuer caused significant damage to his own vehicle while navigating the crash site to reach them. "All of them have kids. They'll have wives, they have families. And they were willing to run up to the truck that could have blown up to grab us," Aaliyah said of her rescuers.

The connection between the sisters and their rescuers has deepened since the incident. The three men and their families have visited Alexis and Aaliyah multiple times, welcoming them into their personal circles. "They're like, y'all are ours now," Aaliyah recalled. "They're like, we've nicknamed them. They're like, y'all are—you're now part of our families."

Community support has flowed steadily toward the sisters through fundraising efforts. Donations came through online campaigns and local events, including an enchilada dinner held at Rachael's Restaurant. Alexis emphasized gratitude for the outpouring of assistance, saying the response showcased "the beauty in the community coming together—family, friends, strangers, our guardian angels, as we call them—just coming out in the masses to support such a tragic accident."

Their mother, Kimberly Burk, expressed admiration for how her daughters have processed the trauma. Rather than harboring resentment toward the driver or circumstance, the sisters have focused on recovery and compassion. "Just their attitude and their outlook on it. And instead of being angry and mad at the situation, they're reaching out and they're praying for people and they're telling their story and they're encouraging people," Burk said.

Aaliyah has transitioned to a rehabilitation facility as she continues her recovery. Both sisters are drawing strength from their bond with each other as they navigate the long road to healing.