Kenan Ellis died in a wrong-way Highway 67 crash that also left two of his cousins hospitalized with serious injuries.
DUNCANVILLE, Texas — Kenan Ellis was only minutes from home when a wrong-way driver struck the vehicle carrying him and two of his cousins on Highway 67, killing the 29-year-old father and leaving his relatives with serious injuries, according to his family and law enforcement.
Ellis’ death in the Sept. 3 crash has left his family grieving a son, brother and father of two while Shaun and Shaud Steward recover from injuries sustained in the same collision. Family members told local news outlets that Ellis had celebrated his 29th birthday in August and was someone relatives could depend on.
The three relatives were traveling on Highway 67 in Duncanville shortly before midnight when authorities said an Audi traveling in the wrong direction hit their vehicle head-on. Ellis was killed, while the two cousins were taken to a hospital. FOX 4 reported that both suffered multiple broken bones but are expected to recover.
One of the injured cousins could need a wheelchair for several months as part of the recovery, according to FOX 4. The available reporting did not provide a timetable for either man’s release from medical care. Their injuries have added another strain for a family already confronting Ellis’ sudden death.
Relatives said Ellis and his cousins were less than five minutes from home when the crash occurred. NBC 5 reported that the three had been returning from a music video shoot. Family members remembered Ellis as a loving father, friend and relative who had been growing into a new stage of adulthood.
Ellis leaves behind two children. His sister, Siniya Allen, told FOX 4 that she was trying to remain strong for them and for other members of the family. She described her brother as a devoted father and a person who was present for his relatives and friends.
Police arrested Alexander Nunez, the alleged driver of the Audi. He faces intoxication manslaughter, two counts of intoxication assault and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Arrest documents reported by FOX 4 say investigators believed Nunez was intoxicated and that he failed field sobriety tests. Authorities also said the Audi had been stolen out of Irving.
Nunez was being held in the Dallas County Jail with bond set at $110,000 and an immigration hold, according to law enforcement information cited by local news outlets. The charges are accusations and do not establish guilt. No plea or final resolution of the case had been reported as of Tuesday.
For Ellis’ relatives, the criminal case is unfolding alongside the immediate work of supporting his children and the two surviving cousins. Both injured men are expected to recover, while the family continues to mourn Ellis and await further developments in the case against the accused driver.
Author note: Last updated September 8, 2026.