The 21-year-old victim of a fatal car crash into a Las Colinas canal called her sister in California from a Southlake bar a few hours before her death, according to documents released this week by the Irving Police Department.
Kaat Debeuckelaer, 21, of Colleyville, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, told her sister during the 12-minute call that she and her boyfriend had met a lawyer at a bar at the Southlake Hilton.
The lawyer, later identified as Ronald Eddins, 41, of Southlake, spoke with the sister about becoming a lawyer, according to police notes about the conversation.
"He started asking me, 'Who is hotter, you or your sister?' " the sister told police.
"At some point, I think I got freaked out or something and was asking what was going on and he said, "Don't worry, I'll get her home safe," the sister said, according to police.
Later, Debeuckelaer's boyfriend, Kenneth Lark, 23, of Austin, got on the phone and said the lawyer "was really cool and had been buying them drinks."
The call began shortly before midnight on Jan. 3.
Surveillance video outside The Men's Club on Northwest Highway in Dallas later showed the trio leaving at 2:45 a.m. in Eddins' black Porsche Panamera.
About 15 minutes or so later, a witness described a loud noise near Spur 348 and Riverside Drive in Irving.
The next morning, a worker with the Dallas Central Utility and Reclamation District called 911 to report seeing car parts scattered near a canal and a car door and an airbag in the water.
Excerpt of 911 call from DCURD worker
The three bodies were found Wednesday and Thursday. Investigators said Eddins was traveling faster than the 55 mph speed limit.
Download Irving police news release
The car struck the inside curb, left the road, striking curbs and road signs and plowing through the grass before striking another curb and becoming airborne.
The car flew about 95 feet and struck a guardrail along the canal, then slammed into the bank on the opposite side before plunging into the water, police said.
Eddins died of drowning and multiple blunt-force trauma, according to the Dallas County medical examiner. Debeuckelaer, who was in the front passenger seat, and Lark died from blunt-force trauma.
-- Kathy Vetter, editor
Moral of the story - - Never trust an Attorney, and even a $150,000 Porsche can sink when driven to excess. That car is meant for a race track not a dark construction zone at 3:00am at high speed. Godspeed to the families and friends, may you live in peace.
Posted by: SDH | February 10, 2012 at 06:31 PM
That's a real tragedy. My heart goes out to all.
Reminds me of some of the stuff I saw when I was a teenager. Guys that are showing off are to often deadly to the people in the vicinity. If you find yourself around them, find an excuse to depart ASAP.
Posted by: Fausta | February 11, 2012 at 12:25 AM
The big guy in the video right before the Porsche drove off, that's one of the Managers at the Club. He did nothing to stop them from leaving!!
Posted by: Chuck | February 11, 2012 at 11:48 PM
Well.... one less lawyer in the world. Obviously he would have messed around on his wife... money corrupts....that's for sure. I bet the family loses everything over this coming lawsuit.
Posted by: jerry | February 15, 2012 at 06:11 PM