Early Thursday morning police investigated a crash in northeast El Paso that claimed one man's life and left two others injured.

KFOX spoke to two witnesses; Hector Lechuga and Samantha Campos, who had just gotten off work when they saw the accident. "I heard the crash when I turned I saw everything, all the smoke,” Campos said.

It happened shortly before 1 a.m. on Gateway North and Dyer Street.

"When it happened the toolbox was on top of his head and his face was on the steering wheel,” said Campos.

The victims' van was fully loaded with tools. Police said during the impact they went flying-- and ultimately, the large tool box crushed him. "I could just hear what he was saying and in Spanish he was like ‘help, help’ and I tried to move the tool box," Lechuga said as he described the scene.

Officers told KFOX the driver of a white van was headed down Gateway North when he ran a red light and slammed into a 2003 CTS Cadillac, causing it to land several feet away in the opposite direction.

Lechuga said he did everything possible to help the driver of the van, trying to keep him conscious. ‘Hey are you OK sir? Move your left hand if you're alright,’ said Lechuga. “And he didn't move it, then the ambulance came and they tried to bring him back but he had already passed away. The wheel was on his chest pushed back and they said a rib came out."

Witnesses said the victim who passed away had a strong smell of alcohol, but at this time police aren't able to confirm if speed or alcohol were factors.

The driver and passenger of the car he crashed into were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The victim's name has not been released. Stay with us online and on KFOX news at six and nine for the latest updates.