Trucking Company in Fatal Terrell Crash Tied to Questionable Practices, Virtual Office

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has confirmed that Hope Trans LLC, a trucking company located in Tacoma, Washington, is the operator involved in the tragic crash in Terrell that resulted in the deaths of six individuals.

DPS reports that the truck driver, Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni, 27, fell asleep at the wheel, resulting in the fatal collision. On Saturday, he was taken into custody and faced five charges of manslaughter along with one charge of aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon.

Federal safety records indicate that Hope Trans operates a fleet of 193 trucks, staffed by 195 drivers. While its 267 inspections revealed no critical violations, federal records indicate a consistent trend of drivers surpassing permissible hours—a recognized risk factor for accidents related to fatigue.

Hope Trans is registered at a co-working space, which raises concerns about its compliance with federal regulations that mandate a verifiable physical business location. Such locations should be designated for the storage and accessibility of safety and driver records for inspection purposes.

Industry experts caution that certain carriers utilize virtual addresses or P.O. boxes to evade scrutiny, complicating the ability of federal agencies to perform comprehensive safety audits.

The listed owner of the company, Aishat Magomedova, has not provided a response to several requests for comment. A LinkedIn page that once listed her as a University of London student and the owner of another trucking company, Fiorito Trucking, vanished after WFAA contacted a potential relative.

Fiorito Trucking, located in Indiana, is registered at a church that also serves as an event venue and is no longer permitted to operate across state lines.

A previous owner of Hope Trans informed WFAA that he sold the company several years back.

On Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) declared a formal investigation into the crash, working alongside DPS, as concerns grow regarding the company's practices and adherence to regulations.