Stranded Texas Driver Killed by Passing Car While Waiting for Police

A late-night breakdown on Interstate 35 turned tragic after a stranded Texas motorist was struck and killed while waiting for a police officer to return with gas.

According to the Hillsboro Department of Public Safety, an officer stopped around 5 a.m. on Feb. 2 after a call came in about a driver stuck on the southbound shoulder. The motorist told the officer they had simply run out of gas, and the officer offered to go buy some so the driver could get home safely.

But while the officer was away, more calls poured in from worried motorists reporting a person standing dangerously close to the roadway. By the time the officer returned with fuel, the driver had been hit by a passing vehicle.

Life-saving efforts were immediately started and Interstate 35’s southbound lanes were briefly shut down. The victim was rushed to Hill Regional Medical Center but later died from their injuries, officials said. The driver’s identity has not yet been released.

Authorities say the crash is still under investigation and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information is urged to contact Hillsboro DPS’s Criminal Investigations Division.