On October 23, 2002, plaintiff Hector Salinas was the passenger in a 2000 Ford Taurus being driven by Jesus DeLeon. Both men were from Rio Grande Valley and were working on a farm in Caldonia, Minnesota for about three months. They traveled to work each day very early in the morning before the local gas station opened, so they always decided to fill up their car the night before. After getting gas and cigarettes, they were returning home at approximately 10:00 p.m. on a Farm to Market highway in Caldonia, when they came to a sharp turn. The driver missed the turn and drove off the road. After approximately 70 feet, the vehicle turned sideways and rolled 2 1/2 times in a hay field. During the roll, the roof crushed on the passenger side on Salinas' head, rendering him quadriplegic. The roof did not crush on the driver's side and DeLeon ran away from the accident for help. Salinas was wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident.

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