‘Something out of a movie:’ El Pasoan loses everything in Dallas crane collapse

A normal Sunday afternoon turned into terrifying ordeal for El Paso native and UTEP graduate Jacqueline Padilla.

Padilla, who moved to Dallas from El Paso for work, was inside her apartment while a massive crane collapsed on her building.

“I was looking at the window and all of the pool furniture fell like straight up almost suspended in the air. Then we heard a loud bang almost as if it was thunder and we just saw parts of the building flying and crumbling down,” Padilla said.

“I didn’t know what was happening. I knew I needed to get out of the building because it started to crumble. We could feel the whole thing move.”

Padilla quickly grabbed what she could and ran from her third floor apartment to find the five-story parking lot completely collapsed. Her car and others were destroyed.

“There was like cars on fire, cars completely turned around, cars like vertical in the air it,” Padilla said.

Five people were injured and one person died. The victim has been identified as 29-year-old Kiersten Smith.

500 people including Padilla are now searching for a new home as officials said the building is now deemed unsafe.

“It was devastating. I feel so bad for the people injured, but I think being in a new city, it was a rough situation to go through. I did learn a sense of community speaking to some of the other residents. I’m just really grateful it didn’t go worse on my end.”

Padilla is coming back to the borderland for the weekend to visit family and friends as she figures out her next steps.
One of her co-workers started a Go Fund me page to help her pick up the pieces. Click here if you would like to help.