Fatal Crash on I-35W in Fort Worth

A person who stopped to help after an earlier crash on I-35W in Fort Worth was struck and killed by another passing vehicle early Friday morning, September 18, 2026. Fort Worth police said officers were dispatched at approximately 2:30 a.m. to the 4700 block of South Freeway near Felix Street. According to the preliminary investigation, an initial crash occurred on the highway. Another motorist then stopped to help the occupants of that vehicle. While assisting at the scene, that person was hit by a passing vehicle and died at the scene. One person involved in the original crash was transported to a hospital. I-35W Closed in Both Directions Near Felix Street Authorities closed both northbound and southbound I-35W between Seminary Drive and I-20 while police investigated the fatal collision. The closure lasted for several hours and caused major traffic backups in south Fort Worth. TxDOT issued an alert stating that both directions of I-35W were closed at Felix Street because of the fatal crash. By approximately 6:30 a.m., the northbound lanes had reopened, with southbound lanes expected to reopen shortly afterward. What Should Be Investigated After a Roadside Fatality? A fatal crash involving a person who has exited a vehicle on an interstate can require investigators to reconstruct both the original collision and the later impact. Important questions may include: where the original vehicles came to rest; whether hazard lights or other warning signals were being used; lighting and visibility conditions; the speed and lane position of the passing vehicle; whether the passing driver saw the stopped vehicles or people in the roadway; whether braking or evasive action occurred; whether distraction or impairment played a role; and whether dashcam, traffic-camera, or nearby surveillance footage captured the collision. Police have not yet publicly explained why the passing vehicle struck the person who had stopped to help, and it would be premature to assign fault before the investigation is complete. Evidence That May Matter in a Fatal I-35W Crash Potentially important evidence may include: vehicle event-data recorder information; dashcam video; TxDOT traffic-camera footage; nearby business surveillance video; witness statements; cell phone records when relevant; crash-scene photographs and measurements; roadway debris and tire marks; and toxicology or other investigative findings if applicable. Because this incident involved two separate crash events, determining the sequence and timing of each vehicle’s movements may be particularly important. The Wooley Law Firm previously reported another fatal I-35W crash in Fort Worth as well as a June 2026 incident in which a man was killed after exiting his vehicle following a minor I-35W crash. These are separate incidents and are not known to be related. Wrongful Death Claims After a Fatal Texas Highway Crash When a person is killed because of another driver’s negligence, certain surviving family members may have rights under Texas wrongful-death law depending on the facts. A civil investigation is separate from any criminal investigation and may involve insurance coverage, vehicle data, witness testimony, and other evidence needed to determine responsibility. Families can learn more on our Texas wrongful death attorney page. Lost a Loved One in a Fort Worth Car Accident? The Wooley Law Firm represents families affected by serious and fatal motor-vehicle crashes throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas. If a loved one was killed in an I-35W crash or another serious Fort Worth collision, an investigation may include preserving vehicle data, video, witness statements, insurance information, and other evidence needed to determine what happened. 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 September 18, 2026 fatal collision. Additional or different facts may become available as Fort Worth police continue their investigation. Nothing in this article is intended to assign fault to any driver or 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.

More than a year after 23-year-old Seth Rains was killed in a Dallas hit-and-run, four indictments have now been filed against the man accused of striking him. The indictments were filed against Jose Antonio Hernandez De Leon in connection with the July 2025 crash that killed Rains near Turtle Creek Boulevard and Market Center Boulevard in the Dallas Design District. Reporting on the new indictments states that prosecutors allege Hernandez De Leon knowingly failed to immediately stop after the collision. An indictment is not a conviction. In Dallas County, a felony indictment means a grand jury determined there was probable cause for the charge to proceed in criminal court. Seth Rains Was Killed While Walking After a Concert Rains, a 23-year-old Texas Tech graduate, was walking with friends after attending a concert when he was struck shortly after 2:40 a.m. on July 27, 2025. Police said the collision occurred near Market Center and Turtle Creek boulevards. Rains was taken to a hospital but died from his injuries. The driver left the scene. Dallas police later arrested Hernandez De Leon in August 2025. Investigators alleged that surveillance video helped them identify the black Lexus involved and trace it to Hernandez De Leon. Police also alleged that he later reported the vehicle stolen, but surveillance footage contradicted that account. Investigators Alleged the Vehicle Was Traveling at High Speed Court and police records previously cited by local reporting allege that Hernandez De Leon was traveling between approximately 74 and 81 mph before the collision. The posted speed limit on Market Center Boulevard was reported to be 35 mph. Those allegations have not yet been proven at trial. What Charges Have Been Reported in the Case? Before the latest indictments, Hernandez De Leon had faced charges that included: manslaughter; collision involving a pedestrian using a crosswalk causing serious bodily injury; tampering with or fabricating physical evidence; and collision involving death. The precise wording and disposition of each newly filed indictment should ultimately be determined from the filed court documents. The criminal case remains pending. Criminal Charges and a Texas Wrongful Death Claim Are Separate A criminal prosecution and a civil wrongful death case serve different purposes. The criminal case determines whether the accused committed a criminal offense and, if convicted, what punishment should be imposed. A civil wrongful death case focuses on whether another person's wrongful act, negligence, carelessness, or other legally actionable conduct caused the death and whether surviving family members may recover damages. That means a family's potential civil rights do not necessarily depend on whether prosecutors ultimately obtain a criminal conviction. Families dealing with a fatal pedestrian collision can learn more through our Dallas wrongful death attorney page. Evidence in a Fatal Hit-and-Run Case The Rains investigation also illustrates how multiple types of evidence can become important after a fatal pedestrian collision. Depending on the circumstances, that evidence may include: surveillance video; traffic-camera footage; vehicle event-data recorder information; GPS or location data; crash reconstruction; broken vehicle components recovered from the scene; witness statements; 911 calls; cell phone information; and post-crash conduct involving the vehicle. Police in this case reportedly used surveillance footage and physical evidence from the scene during the investigation. Our article on how a Dallas pedestrian accident lawyer proves fault discusses many of these same types of evidence, including crosswalk video, vehicle data, witness testimony, and hit-and-run investigations. Lost a Loved One in a Dallas Hit-and-Run? The Wooley Law Firm represents families affected by fatal car and pedestrian crashes throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas. A fatal hit-and-run may require a separate civil investigation into the driver, available insurance coverage, vehicle ownership, electronic data, surveillance recordings, witnesses, and other evidence that could affect 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 allegations and pending criminal charges. An indictment is not a finding of guilt, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

The Arlington and North Texas bowling communities are mourning Zachary Barton and Katherine “Katie” Barton, both 39, who were killed in a five-vehicle crash on State Highway 171 north of Hillsboro on Saturday night, September 5, 2026. The Bartons were traveling in a Ford F-150 when a complicated chain-reaction collision unfolded near County Road 4223 in Hill County. Friends told local reporters that the couple leaves behind two young children, adding another heartbreaking dimension to an already devastating crash. What Happened in the Fatal State Highway 171 Crash? According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the wreck occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. DPS said a farm tractor towing equipment was traveling northbound with its lights flashing when a northbound Ford Fiesta passed a pickup, moved back into the right lane, and struck the farm equipment. The impact caused equipment to detach and create hazards in the roadway. A southbound Chevrolet Traverse and the Bartons' Ford F-150 then became involved in collisions with objects in the roadway. DPS said the Bartons and a 12-year-old passenger from the Traverse exited their vehicles and were standing in the roadway when another vehicle struck them. Katherine Barton was pronounced dead at the scene. Zachary Barton was transported to a hospital, where he later died. The 12-year-old child and the driver of the Ford Fiesta were reported in critical condition. Investigators Suspect Alcohol May Have Contributed to the Initial Crash Texas DPS has said investigators suspect alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the initial collision involving the Ford Fiesta. That remains part of an active investigation. The possibility that alcohol contributed to one stage of the wreck does not automatically determine responsibility for every impact that followed. In a five-vehicle chain-reaction crash, investigators may need to determine how each collision occurred and whether more than one driver's actions contributed to the ultimate injuries and deaths. Zachary and Katie Barton Remembered by Bowling Community New reporting has focused on the impact the Bartons' deaths have had on their family, friends, and the bowling community. Zachary Barton was known for his involvement in youth bowling programs, including work connected with USA Bowling and other youth events. Friends and colleagues have described the loss as difficult to comprehend. Most importantly, Zachary and Katie leave behind two young children who must now cope with the loss of both parents. The circumstances make it especially important to discuss this crash with respect for the family rather than reducing it to another traffic statistic. A Multi-Stage Crash May Involve Multiple Liability Questions This wreck appears to have unfolded in several distinct stages. The initial collision involved the Ford Fiesta and farm equipment. Equipment then entered or remained in the roadway. Additional vehicles encountered those hazards. Finally, people who had exited their vehicles were struck. That sequence may raise questions about: The conduct of the driver involved in the initial collision Whether alcohol impairment contributed The visibility and position of the farm equipment The location and visibility of debris after the first impact The actions of drivers approaching the secondary crash scene Whether motorists had sufficient time and distance to react The timing and location of each vehicle and pedestrian impact A serious chain-reaction crash should not be evaluated solely by looking at the final collision. Evidence Will Be Critical in the Hill County Crash Investigation Potentially important evidence may include vehicle event-data recorders, dashcam footage, witness statements, photographs of the farm equipment and debris field, roadway measurements, toxicology evidence, cell-phone records when legally appropriate, and the complete Texas DPS crash investigation. In a wreck involving several separate impacts, investigators may also need to establish a detailed timeline showing exactly when each collision occurred. The Wooley Law Firm represents people injured in Texas car accidents and families who have lost loved ones in preventable crashes. Wrongful Death Claims After a Fatal Texas Crash When someone is killed because of another person's negligence, certain surviving family members may have rights under Texas wrongful death law. In a case involving both parents of young children, the damages can extend far beyond immediate financial losses and may include the loss of companionship, care, support, guidance, and other legally recoverable losses. Any potential claim would depend on the evidence establishing responsibility for the crash. Lost a Loved One in a Fatal Multi-Vehicle Crash? If your family lost someone in an Arlington car accident, Hillsboro multi-vehicle crash, State Highway 171 wreck, or another fatal Texas chain-reaction collision, you may have the right to investigate what happened and pursue accountability if another driver or party was legally responsible. The Wooley Law Firm can investigate vehicle data, crash-scene evidence, witness statements, toxicology evidence, insurance coverage, and the complete sequence of impacts. Call The Wooley Law Firm at (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don't pay unless we win. This article is based on information attributed to the Texas Department of Public Safety and subsequent local reporting concerning the September 5, 2026 crash. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional or different facts may become available. Any reference to suspected alcohol involvement reflects preliminary investigative information and does not establish criminal guilt or civil liability. Nothing in this article is intended to assign fault to any 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.