Pedestrian Fatality in SUV and Waymo Incident

Man Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash on Skillman Street in Dallas Friday, September 25, 2026 | Dallas, Texas Wooley Law Takeaway A pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Skillman Street in Dallas late Friday night, September 25, 2026. Dallas Police said officers responded at approximately 11:00 p.m. to the 8600 block of Skillman Street. A preliminary investigation determined that a vehicle struck a man and the driver left the scene without stopping. The pedestrian died at the scene. Police had not released the victim’s identity, a description of the vehicle involved, or information identifying the driver. No arrest had been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing. NBC Dallas-Fort Worth Driver Left After Striking Pedestrian According to Dallas Police, the vehicle that struck the pedestrian did not remain at the crash scene. Authorities had not released information explaining: what type of vehicle was involved; which direction the pedestrian or vehicle was traveling; whether the pedestrian was in a crosswalk; how fast the vehicle was traveling; whether surveillance cameras captured the crash; or why the driver left the scene. Those questions may become important as investigators attempt to identify the vehicle and reconstruct what happened. How Police May Identify a Hit-and-Run Vehicle Even when a driver leaves before officers arrive, investigators may have several ways to identify the vehicle. Potential evidence can include: surveillance video from nearby businesses or residences; traffic-camera footage; dashcam video from passing motorists; automatic license-plate-reader information; witness statements; 911 recordings; debris or broken vehicle components left at the scene; paint transfer or other physical evidence; and repair records if the vehicle was damaged. Dallas hit-and-run investigations have previously relied on nearby cameras and physical evidence to identify vehicles and drivers. The Wooley Law Firm recently reported on a separate Dallas hit-and-run case in which investigators used surveillance evidence to identify a vehicle. That case involved different circumstances and is unrelated to the Skillman Street crash. Why Physical Evidence From the Scene Matters A pedestrian crash scene may contain evidence that helps investigators determine where the impact occurred and how the vehicle was moving. That evidence may include vehicle fragments, tire marks, roadway debris, damage to surrounding property, and the pedestrian's final location. If the vehicle is later found, investigators may compare damage to the vehicle with evidence recovered from Skillman Street. Electronic data from the vehicle may also become relevant depending on its make, model, and available systems. What Happens If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Not Immediately Found? A driver's identity is not always established in the first hours or days after a fatal hit-and-run. Investigators may continue reviewing surveillance recordings, checking license-plate databases, interviewing witnesses, and comparing damaged vehicles with evidence collected from the scene. The Wooley Law Firm has previously reported on a fatal I-35E hit-and-run in Dallas where police were also searching for the driver who left after striking a pedestrian. Each investigation is different, but these cases illustrate why video and physical evidence can be especially important when the responsible vehicle is initially unknown. Wrongful Death Issues After a Fatal Hit-and-Run A criminal investigation into a driver's decision to leave the scene is separate from any potential civil wrongful-death claim. If the driver is ultimately identified, a civil investigation may examine the driver's conduct before the collision, vehicle ownership, insurance coverage, electronic data, and any other evidence bearing on responsibility. If the driver cannot immediately be identified, available insurance coverage may also become an important issue depending on the circumstances and the policies involved. Families can learn more through our Texas wrongful death attorney page and our information regarding Dallas pedestrian accident claims. Lost a Loved One in a Dallas Hit-and-Run? The Wooley Law Firm represents families affected by serious and fatal pedestrian and motor-vehicle crashes throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas. A fatal hit-and-run investigation may require prompt efforts to preserve surveillance footage, identify witnesses, locate the vehicle involved, obtain electronic records, and determine what insurance coverage may apply. Call The Wooley Law Firm at (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don't pay unless we win. Disclaimer This article is based on preliminary information concerning a September 25, 2026 fatal hit-and-run crash in Dallas. Additional or different facts may become available as police continue their investigation. The driver and vehicle involved had not been publicly identified when the initial report was released. Nothing in this article is intended to accuse any particular person of wrongdoing before the evidence is established. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Six Dallas Police Department officers have been disciplined over their handling of the investigation into the March 15, 2025 crash that killed 25-year-old pedestrian Atianna Washington on West Northwest Highway in Dallas. The case involved Jaime Castro, who was then a Dallas senior corporal and president of the Dallas Police Association. Castro was listed in the original police report as a passenger in the Cadillac that struck Washington. An internal investigation ultimately identified 14 policy violations involving six responding officers. One sergeant received an eight-day suspension, two officers received shorter suspensions, and another sergeant and two officers received written reprimands. The disciplinary findings add another significant development to a case in which questions have persisted about how the original fatal-crash investigation was handled. Atianna Washington Was Killed on West Northwest Highway Washington was attempting to cross the 2500 block of West Northwest Highway on March 15, 2025, when she was struck by a black Cadillac. The roadway was described as dimly lit. Washington was unresponsive when the first Dallas officer arrived and was pronounced dead approximately 40 minutes later. Castro, who was serving as president of the Dallas Police Association at the time, was at the scene. Body-camera footage showed one responding officer recognizing Castro, greeting him personally, and briefly embracing him near the crash scene. Internal Records Found Problems With the Police Response According to internal records reported by The Dallas Morning News and NBC 5, investigators concluded that officers gave Castro preferential treatment and failed to promptly complete important investigative steps. The reported concerns included delays in conducting interviews and determining whether alcohol may have been involved. Those shortcomings became particularly significant because investigators later questioned information provided about who had actually been driving the Cadillac. The six officers disciplined in 2026 have the ability to appeal their discipline. Jaime Castro Pleaded Guilty to Making a False Statement Castro later retired from the Dallas Police Department and stepped down from his leadership position with the police association. In March 2026, he pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to a police officer, a Class B misdemeanor. According to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, the charge arose from a false statement connected to the fatal crash. Court records reported by local media indicate Castro had claimed that his girlfriend was driving the vehicle and that she had not consumed alcohol before the collision. As part of the plea agreement, Castro agreed to surrender his Texas peace-officer license, complete DWI classes, pay a fine, and serve one year of deferred probation. Importantly, Dallas police have not publicly identified who was actually driving the Cadillac when Washington was struck. Dallas County DA Said the Initial Investigation Was Incomplete The Dallas County District Attorney's Office later conducted its own Public Integrity Unit investigation. When announcing Castro's guilty plea, District Attorney John Creuzot said that, based on Dallas Police Department policy, the investigation conducted at the crash scene appeared to have been incomplete. Creuzot also said the shortcomings in the original investigation may have made it impossible to determine whether other criminal conduct occurred. That distinction matters: the later disciplinary findings concern how responding officers handled the investigation. They do not themselves establish who caused Washington's death or resolve every disputed fact surrounding the collision. Why the Original Crash Investigation Matters Fatal pedestrian cases often depend heavily on evidence collected within the first hours after a collision. That evidence may include: statements from the driver and passengers; witness interviews; alcohol or drug testing when legally appropriate; body-camera footage; dashcam video; nearby surveillance recordings; vehicle event-data recorder information; photographs and measurements of the scene; cell phone information when legally relevant; damage to the vehicle; and physical evidence showing where the pedestrian was struck. If those investigative steps are delayed or omitted, evidence may disappear and witnesses' memories may become less reliable. This case illustrates why an initial police report is not necessarily the final word about how a serious or fatal crash occurred. Families Can Conduct an Independent Civil Investigation A family affected by a fatal collision does not have to rely exclusively on the conclusions contained in the original police report. A civil wrongful-death investigation can separately examine physical evidence, witness testimony, video, electronic vehicle data, medical records, police body-camera footage, and other information. It can also compare later-discovered evidence with statements contained in the original crash report. The Wooley Law Firm represents families in Texas wrongful death cases and serious Dallas pedestrian accidents. Lost a Loved One in a Dallas Pedestrian Crash? The Wooley Law Firm represents families affected by fatal car and pedestrian collisions throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas. When questions exist about the initial crash investigation, a separate review may be necessary to preserve video, obtain electronic vehicle data, identify witnesses, review police records, and determine whether the available evidence supports a wrongful-death claim. Call The Wooley Law Firm at (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don't pay unless we win. Disclaimer This article discusses a fatal March 2025 collision, subsequent Dallas Police Department disciplinary proceedings, and a criminal case that resulted in Jaime Castro pleading guilty to making a false statement to police. The disciplinary findings do not themselves establish civil liability for Washington's death, and Dallas police have not publicly identified who was driving the vehicle when the collision occurred. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

A 79-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross South Collins Street near Oram Street in Arlington. According to Arlington Police, officers responded to the 1400 block of South Collins Street after receiving reports that a woman in the roadway had been hit by a car. The woman was transported to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Police said the driver who struck her immediately stopped, remained at the scene, and cooperated with investigators. The driver was not facing criminal charges at the time of the initial report. Police Say Woman Was Crossing Collins Street Investigators said the 79-year-old woman was attempting to cross Collins Street from west to east when she was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound. Police said she was not in a designated crosswalk at the time of the collision. The victim's identity had not yet been publicly released. Being Outside a Crosswalk Does Not Automatically Resolve Fault Whether a pedestrian was inside a marked crosswalk can be important, but it does not necessarily answer every question about how a collision occurred. Investigators may still examine: the speed of the vehicle; roadway lighting and visibility; whether the driver was distracted; where the pedestrian entered the roadway; how long the pedestrian was visible before impact; whether the driver braked or attempted to avoid the collision; nearby surveillance footage; vehicle event-data recorder information; and witness statements. The fact that the driver remained at the scene and was not criminally charged also does not, by itself, determine whether civil liability exists. Video Could Be Important in a Collins Street Pedestrian Crash South Collins Street is a busy Arlington roadway lined with businesses, apartments, intersections, and parking areas. After a serious pedestrian collision, nearby business cameras, apartment security systems, dashcams, or other video may help reconstruct how the crash occurred. Video can sometimes show the pedestrian's location, the vehicle's movements, traffic conditions, visibility, and whether the driver had an opportunity to react before impact. The Wooley Law Firm has written more about how pedestrian accident lawyers investigate fault when someone is struck while crossing a roadway. Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in Arlington This Collins Street crash is separate from the recent fatal pedestrian collision on westbound I-30 near Center Street in Arlington. Arlington Police report that pedestrian fatalities remain a continuing traffic-safety concern in the city. The department's current traffic-safety statistics list multiple pedestrian deaths in Arlington during 2026. Wrongful Death Claims After a Pedestrian Collision When a pedestrian dies after being struck by a vehicle, certain surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim if the evidence establishes that another person's negligence or other wrongful conduct caused the death. Potential damages can depend on the circumstances and may include losses related to financial support, companionship, mental anguish, and other damages permitted under Texas law. Families can learn more through our Texas wrongful death attorney page or our bicycle and pedestrian accident attorney page. Lost a Loved One in an Arlington Pedestrian Accident? The Wooley Law Firm represents people and families affected by serious pedestrian and motor-vehicle crashes throughout Arlington, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Texas. A fatal pedestrian collision may require review of surveillance footage, vehicle data, witness statements, roadway conditions, police records, and available insurance coverage. Call The Wooley Law Firm at (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don't pay unless we win. Disclaimer This article is based on preliminary information concerning a developing fatal pedestrian collision. Additional or different facts may become available as Arlington Police continue their investigation. Nothing in this article is intended to assign fault to the pedestrian, driver, or any other person before the investigation is complete. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.