Pedestrian Struck and Killed on I-20 Eastbound Near Oak Grove Road in Fort Worth, Texas

What Happened

A person was struck and killed by a vehicle on Interstate 20 in Fort Worth on Sunday night, according to the Fort Worth Police Department. Officers were called at approximately 9:56 p.m. to the eastbound lanes of I-20 near Oak Grove Road, close to the interstate's interchange with I-35W, in response to reports of a crash. When officers arrived at the scene, they located the victim, who had been struck by a vehicle traveling on the highway. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene. As of Sunday night, the victim had not been publicly identified; the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office is expected to formally identify them and determine the official cause of death. Emergency responders closed all eastbound lanes of I-20 for several hours while officers worked the scene and conducted their initial investigation, causing significant traffic disruption in the area during the closure. The Fort Worth Police Department's Traffic Investigation Unit has taken over the case and is working to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal collision, including how the pedestrian came to be on the roadway and whether any additional factors contributed to the crash.

Location and Infrastructure

The crash occurred on Interstate 20 eastbound near Oak Grove Road, a stretch of freeway in south Fort Worth located near the interchange with Interstate 35W. This section of I-20 carries heavy volumes of high-speed through traffic connecting Fort Worth to Arlington and the broader Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and it has been the site of prior serious and fatal incidents involving pedestrians and stranded motorists on the roadway. Like most interstate segments, this area lacks pedestrian infrastructure such as crosswalks or sidewalks, meaning any person on foot in the travel lanes or shoulder is exposed to vehicles moving at highway speeds with minimal reaction time. Lighting conditions, roadway shoulders, and any nearby exit ramps or access points are typical factors investigators examine in freeway pedestrian fatalities. The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Fort Worth Police Department and is monitored in part by the Texas Department of Transportation's regional traffic incident systems.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Texas law, pedestrian fatalities on public roadways may give rise to a wrongful death claim, which surviving family members—typically a spouse, children, or parents—may pursue under the Texas Wrongful Death Act (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.001 et seq.). A related survival action may also be available on behalf of the deceased's estate. Texas generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death and personal injury claims, though exceptions can apply, making timely consultation important. Because Texas follows a modified comparative negligence standard, any fault attributed to the pedestrian could affect the amount of recoverable damages. Potential compensation may include funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and mental anguish. Insurance considerations may involve the at-fault driver's liability coverage and, depending on the circumstances, uninsured motorist provisions. This information is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice.

Related Resources

• Fort Worth Police Department – Traffic Investigation Unit: (817) 392-4222
• Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office: (817) 920-5700
• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Fort Worth District – Traffic Incidents: its.txdot.gov/its/District/FTW/incidents
• Texas Department of Transportation – Traffic Safety Laws and Statutes: dot.state.tx.us
• Texas Statutes – Transportation Code (Traffic Laws): statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.htm
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – Pedestrian Safety: nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety
• Grief and crisis support: National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988 (for those struggling with loss)