Veteran USPS Mailman Killed on His Route After Drunk Driver Slams into Truck

A beloved Texas postal worker who had spent nearly three decades delivering mail to the same neighborhood was killed on duty Saturday when an alleged drunk driver plowed into his USPS truck.

The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. on October 18 along Antoine Drive in northwest Houston. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, 58-year-old Steven Marks was delivering mail when a silver Dodge Ram 2500 slammed into the back of his postal truck.

“The impact pushed the mail vehicle into a tree,” deputies said in their report. Marks was rushed to HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Authorities say the suspect, Jose Humberto Romero, 33, was speeding away from the scene of a separate minor accident just moments before the fatal collision.

“As he was fleeing, he was going at a high rate of speed, lost control, and struck the rear of the postal truck that was delivering mail to residences here on the southbound side of Antoine Drive,” Sgt. Villacorta with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office told local station KHOU.

Romero was arrested at the scene after failing a field sobriety test. He has been charged with intoxication manslaughter, a second-degree felony in Texas that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. His bond was set at $250,000, and court records show he is expected to appear in court Monday, Oct. 20.

Marks wasn’t just a familiar face in the neighborhood — he was part of the community fabric.

“He was our friend,” said Charlotte Mays, president of the local homeowners association. “He was a great guy. He would be truly missed and just irreplaceable.”

Neighbors gathered over the weekend to leave flowers and notes near the crash site. Many described Marks as someone who always had a wave, a smile, and a kind word for everyone on his route.

“He’s going to always be in our hearts,” one neighbor told KTRK. “He’s somebody that we cared for.”

Marks’ niece, Nikole Marks, told KHOU that her uncle’s death has devastated the family.

“It was such a tragic accident that I think it came as a shock to everybody,” she said. “He loved his job and the people he served every day. He didn’t deserve this.”

In a statement to KTRK, the U.S. Postal Service said:

“The Postal Service is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life yesterday in a two-vehicle accident in Houston, TX, involving our Postal family member with 28 years of service. Our thoughts are with their family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.”

Counseling services are being offered to employees at the Cornerstone Post Office where Marks worked.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez also shared condolences online, writing on X (formerly Twitter):

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and @USPS colleagues.”

The case remains under investigation by the sheriff’s vehicular crimes division, but many neighbors say they hope Romero faces the maximum penalty.

“Steven spent his life serving this community,” one resident said. “He deserved to come home safely — not to die because someone couldn’t stay sober behind the wheel.”