Driver faces 68 years in prison for Fort Worth crash that killed five

Eduardo Gonzalez will serve 68 total years in prison after a Tarrant County jury convicted him of five counts of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. The sentences stem from a high-speed collision in August 2024 that resulted in the deaths of three children and two adults.

The crash occurred on August 19, 2024, on Interstate 35W near Fort Worth. At the time, Gonzalez was 19 years old and driving a Chevrolet Camaro. He had consumed beer and THC before the accident. Witnesses and police records indicate he was traveling at 130 miles per hour when his vehicle struck the rear of a Chevrolet driven by Amber Hopewell.

The impact sent Hopewell’s vehicle into a fire, killing her and four passengers on the scene. The victims were Willie Gunn, 48, and Hopewell, 38, along with their three children: Elijah Carroll, 9, Chrystale Cobbin, 4, and Amiyah Fisher, 2. Because the bodies were severely burned, officials required several months to confirm their identities.

Police discovered several empty beer bottles and an open can inside Gonzalez’s car after the crash. Officers noted he had red, watery eyes and slurred speech, and he smelled of alcohol. An arrest affidavit stated that Gonzalez initially denied causing the crash and was uncooperative when questioned about damage to his vehicle. He sustained serious injuries but survived the wreck.

The jury’s verdict led to a sentencing structure that combines consecutive and concurrent terms. Gonzalez received 17 years for each of the five victims. The sentences for the three child victims will be served consecutively, while the sentences for the two adults will run concurrently. The court also imposed a $50,000 fine.

Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells addressed the outcome in a statement. "No sentence can restore those lives, but this verdict holds him accountable for every one of them," Sorrells said. He expressed gratitude to prosecutors, investigators, and Fort Worth police for their work in the case.

Gonzalez is currently 21 years old. He was found guilty on all five counts of intoxication manslaughter. The legal proceedings concluded with the formal sentencing, which sets the specific duration of his incarceration at 68 years.