> At a Glance
> – A driver died after his Hyundai slammed into a power pole at a Plano dealership
> – Bystanders pulled Nathaniel Molina from the burning wreck but he died at hospital
> – Crash happened Jan. 3 at 12:15 p.m. on the 1500 block of southbound Dallas Parkway
> – Why it matters: High-speed single-car crashes can turn deadly within seconds, even when good Samaritans intervene
A routine lunch hour turned fatal when a speeding sedan jumped the curb, struck a concrete power pole, and burst into flames in a Texas dealership parking lot.
The Collision
Plano Police say a silver Hyundai Accent was “traveling at a high rate of speed” when it hit the curb, left the roadway, and slammed into the pole. Impact momentum carried the car into an unoccupied Subaru Legacy parked on the lot before the Hyundai came to rest and caught fire.
The crash occurred shortly after noon on Saturday, Jan. 3, along the 1500 block of southbound Dallas Parkway, according to the department’s release.
Rescue Efforts
Witnesses rushed to help and managed to pull the driver-identified as Nathaniel Molina by the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office-out of the burning vehicle. He was the only occupant.
Plano Fire Rescue transported Molina to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No other injuries were reported.
Timeline of Events | Time
—|—
Vehicle strikes curb | ~12:15 p.m.
Car hits pole & Subaru | seconds later
Fire starts | immediately
Bystander rescue | within minutes
Paramedics arrive | shortly after
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not released an official cause and say the investigation remains open. Speed is being examined as a primary factor.
Key Takeaways
- Single-vehicle, high-speed crashes can be fatal even when rescuers act quickly
- The incident closed part of a busy commercial corridor during lunch hour
- Police have not indicated whether mechanical failure or impairment contributed
The dealership lot reopened after crews cleared the scene, but the damaged power pole and two wrecked cars stand as stark reminders of how rapidly a routine drive can turn deadly.
