Incident Overview

In the early morning hours of Sunday, April 5, a high-speed police pursuit spanning more than 15 miles on Interstate 35W in Fort Worth, Texas ended in a fatal single-vehicle crash near Tarver Road south of Burleson. At approximately 2:34 a.m., Fort Worth Police Department officers observed a vehicle traveling without headlights on I-35W near Rosedale Street. Officers attempted a traffic stop after witnessing the vehicle strike another car, but the driver refused to yield and continued southbound on I-35W. During the pursuit, the fleeing vehicle struck a second car before eventually exiting the highway near Tarver Road. Officers briefly lost sight of the vehicle before locating it in the 1500 block of Tarver Road, where it had left the roadway and crashed. Two occupants were found inside; the passenger sustained minor injuries and was able to exit the vehicle, while the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers or other citizens were reported injured. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct identification of the deceased driver.

Location and Infrastructure

Interstate 35W is one of the primary north-south corridors through Fort Worth and the greater Tarrant County region, carrying significant commercial and commuter traffic at all hours. The pursuit originated near the Rosedale Street interchange, a well-traveled area in central Fort Worth close to Texas Christian University and several major medical facilities. The highway extends southward through increasingly suburban and semi-rural terrain before reaching the Tarver Road area, south of the city of Burleson — a community of roughly 50,000 residents in southern Tarrant and Johnson Counties. Tarver Road is a two-lane rural roadway intersecting with I-35W at a relatively low-traffic exit. The combination of early morning darkness, high speeds, and the transition from highway to surface street likely contributed to the conditions leading to the fatal crash.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Texas law, surviving vehicle occupants and the families of those killed in crashes involving police pursuits may have legal rights worth understanding. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule, meaning liability can be apportioned among multiple parties depending on their respective roles in an incident. The passenger injured in this crash may be entitled to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering through applicable insurance policies, including personal injury protection (PIP) or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Third-party drivers whose vehicles were struck during the pursuit may also have claims under their own policies or potentially against other liable parties. In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the incident. Families of deceased individuals may have standing to pursue wrongful death claims under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 71. Those affected are encouraged to consult with a licensed Texas attorney to understand their specific rights.

Related Resources

Emergency Services

• Fort Worth Police Department: (817) 392-4222
• Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office: (817) 920-5700
• JPS Health Network (Fort Worth): (817) 921-3431

Traffic Safety Resources

• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Fort Worth District: txdot.gov
• TxDOT Crash Records Information System (CRIS): cris.dot.state.tx.us
• Fort Worth Traffic Management: (817) 392-8100

Support Services for Accident Victims

• Tarrant County Crisis Line: (817) 335-3022
• Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse: tdcj.texas.gov/victim
• MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Texas: madd.org

Texas Traffic Laws and Regulations

• Texas Transportation Code: statutes.capitol.texas.gov
• Texas Driver's Handbook (TxDPS): dps.texas.gov
• Texas Department of Insurance – Auto Coverage Guide: tdi.texas.gov