A 40-year-old Arlington woman was killed early Thursday morning after she was struck by an 18-wheeler while on foot on Interstate 20. Arlington Police said the crash followed a domestic disturbance at a nearby motel. According to police, a man left the motel on foot around 4 a.m. and crossed I-20 from north to south near Bowen Road. A short time later, the woman followed him onto the freeway and was struck by a commercial truck. She was identified by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office as Demetrice Renee Clark, 40, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the truck driver stopped immediately, called 911, and fully cooperated with investigators; he was not injured and has not been charged in connection with the crash. All westbound lanes of I-20 between Cooper Street and Bowen Road were closed for several hours as Arlington Police investigated, reopening shortly before 10 a.m. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remains active.

Location and Infrastructure

The crash occurred on westbound Interstate 20 near the Bowen Road interchange in Arlington, a high-volume freeway corridor connecting Tarrant County communities including Fort Worth, Arlington, and Grand Prairie. This stretch of I-20 carries significant overnight commercial truck traffic moving between the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area's major distribution hubs. Like most interstate segments, this section is not designed for pedestrian access and has no sidewalks, crosswalks, or pedestrian crossings; entry onto the roadway on foot is both prohibited and extremely hazardous, particularly during nighttime hours when visibility is limited. The closure between Cooper Street and Bowen Road, two of the area's primary interchange points, allowed investigators to document the scene and is standard protocol for fatal traffic incidents on Texas highways.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Incidents involving pedestrians on Texas highways raise complex legal questions governed by the Texas Transportation Code and principles of negligence law. Texas follows a modified comparative fault standard, meaning recovery may be limited or barred if a pedestrian is found more than 50% responsible for entering a roadway unlawfully. Commercial truck collisions often involve additional layers of insurance coverage, including the trucking company's commercial liability policy, and may be subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations. Surviving family members may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 71, which can address funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support, and loss of companionship. Texas generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death and personal injury claims. Families should consult a qualified attorney to evaluate their specific circumstances, as this information is general in nature and not legal advice.

Related Resources

Emergency and Investigative Services

• Arlington Police Department: (817) 459-5700
• Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office: (817) 920-5700

Traffic Safety Resources

• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) – Traffic Safety: https://www.txdot.gov/safety.html
• Texas Transportation Code (Statutes): https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.1.htm
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Pedestrian Safety: https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety

Support Services for Accident Victims and Families

• Tarrant County Crime Victim Services: https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/criminal-district-attorney/victim-services.html
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
• Texas Health and Human Services – Grief and Crisis Support: https://www.hhs.texas.gov