Inmate Dies in Tarrant County Jail Custody

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.

A tragic incident occurred early this morning on I-35W in Fort Worth, where a person was hit and killed while trying to help after a crash. Authorities responded to the scene near Felix Street at about 2:30 a.m., resulting in a significant closure of both directions of the highway. According to CBS News, the authorities reported that one individual from the initial collision was taken to a hospital, while lanes reopened later in the morning after significant traffic delays. Why This Matters This type of incident requires a careful and thorough investigation into various factors, including the circumstances leading to both accidents, driver actions, and relevant traffic conditions. Critical evidence in such cases may include police reports, surveillance or dashcam video, eyewitness statements, and any physical evidence at the scene. Acting quickly to gather and preserve this evidence is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the events. Wooley Law Firm handles wrongful death cases, pedestrian accidents, and traffic-related incidents in Fort Worth and across Texas. How Wooley Law Can Help If you lost a loved one in a tragic accident, you have the right to seek justice and pursue compensation for damages, including medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Call (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don’t pay unless we win.