A tragic car accident claimed the life of a newlywed man on Monday while he and his wife were en route to their honeymoon. The accident occurred just a day after the couple’s wedding. The deceased, 27-year-old Daniel Palacios III, and his 23-year-old wife, Christy Carrillo, were traveling on Interstate 40 in Tennessee when their Toyota 4Runner veered off the road and collided with a dirt embankment, as reported by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The couple’s vehicle flipped multiple times after the initial impact, eventually crossing into the path of oncoming traffic where it was struck by a semi-truck. Palacios, who was an independently contracted truck driver, was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Fayette County fire chief confirmed his death.
Carrillo, who was injured in the crash, survived. She was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and has since been released. The accident occurred in the afternoon on I-40 in Fayette County, approximately 40 miles from Memphis.
The couple had just celebrated their wedding the previous day, according to Palacios’ father, Daniel Palacios Jr. He expressed his grief over the loss of his son and the traumatic experience his new daughter-in-law had to endure. He confirmed that Carrillo was physically and emotionally shaken by the incident but is expected to recover.
The couple had been engaged since September 2023. A video of the crash aftermath was shared by a passerby, Dennis Vann, who described the wreckage as the most severe he had ever witnessed on I-40.
Palacios Jr. shared a heartfelt message on social media, announcing his son’s funeral to be held on March 16. He expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers as the family copes with the tragic loss.
This incident is the latest in a series of tragedies on I-40 in Tennessee. Just hours after Palacios’ fatal accident, a plane carrying three children and two adults crashed on the same highway near John C. Tune Airport in Nashville, about 200 miles away. All five passengers perished in the crash.