Woman killed while trying to help suspected drunken driver

DALLAS - A woman who stopped to help a man involved in a car accident was killed overnight in Dallas.

Police said a suspected drunken driver lost control of his car and hit a guardrail along Highway 175 southeast of Downtown Dallas around 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

Theresa Ware stopped to check on him and ended up pulling him out of his car. She asked another driver to watch over him while she called for help.

Ware was on the phone when she was hit by a pickup truck. The 56-year-old later died at the hospital.

“If I can say anything to her family… I wish you could have seen her heroic efforts to try to help this guy, stop him and stop traffic to make sure he was safe and no one else got hurt,” said Laride Conerly, a witness.

Conerly said he wants Ware's family to know, “you had a great hero in your family.”

Police said the driver who hit Ware did stop and is not expected to face charges.

The Dallas County Sheriff's Office said the deadly accident was an unfortunate reminder of the dangers Good Samaritans face trying to help.

“Her heart was in a good place. But in that situation you have to determine where’s that person at and is it more dangerous for myself to be in the middle of the roadway. The best thing to do is call 911,” said Dep. Edward Cloud.

The first driver, identified as 25-year-old Develtrick Adair, tried to run away from the scene after Ware was hit. Officers caught up with him and arrested him not far away.

Adair has a criminal record and prior drug convictions. He's expected to face DWI charges.