Waste Management Truck Driver Tyler Shivers Killed in Crash Into U.S. 287 Overpass at Erath Street in Fort Worth, Texas

A 33-year-old Waste Management driver died Wednesday evening, September 23, 2026, after his garbage truck left the roadway and struck the support pillars of the Erath Street bridge over southbound U.S. Highway 287 in Fort Worth. Fort Worth police were dispatched at 6 p.m. to the 3500 block of Martin Luther King Freeway southbound after the truck, which was exiting the highway, struck several support pillars for the bridge. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office identified the driver as Tyler Shivers, and family members identified his passenger as Ruben Saenz. The passenger was taken to an area hospital in critical condition. Witness Marcus Hawkins, who was in his car nearby, said he saw the truck drift between lanes before it hit a slope and struck the support beam. Hawkins and another man used pocket knives to help free the driver from the truck, and nearby residents also ran to help. A Fort Worth police officer said he had never seen an accident do such extensive damage to an overpass. On Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board opened a safety investigation in coordination with the Fort Worth Police Department. Investigators have not determined the cause. Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and coworkers of both men.

Location and Infrastructure

Martin Luther King Freeway is the local name for this stretch of U.S. 287, a major route that connects downtown Fort Worth with communities to the southeast. At this location, Erath Street crosses over the freeway on a bridge supported by concrete pillars next to the main lanes and exit ramps. The surrounding area is mostly residential, and one neighbor said a Waste Management landfill is nearby. According to police, the truck left the roadway and hit a bridge support pillar, snapping a concrete support. After the crash, the freeway was closed in both directions and traffic was sent onto the service roads. Texas Department of Transportation officials said their goal was to reopen the main lanes of Highway 287 by 6 a.m. Friday, but the Erath Street overpass is expected to remain closed through October. Drivers should check current conditions before traveling and expect delays near Berry Street and Wilbarger Street.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Because both men were reportedly working at the time, workers' compensation law under the Texas Labor Code may apply. Texas employers can choose whether to carry workers' compensation coverage. Where coverage exists, eligible beneficiaries may receive death and burial benefits, and suits against the employer are generally limited, with exceptions for certain gross-negligence claims by a surviving spouse or heirs. Separate claims may be possible against other parties whose negligence or defective products contributed to a crash. The Texas Wrongful Death Act (Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 71) allows a surviving spouse, children, and parents to bring claims, and a survival action may be brought on behalf of the estate. Texas generally sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims and applies a modified comparative fault rule. Available compensation may include medical expenses, lost earnings and earning capacity, mental anguish, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses.

Related Resources

Local Emergency Services

• Fort Worth Police Department: fortworthtexas.gov/departments/police
• Fort Worth Fire Department: fortworthtexas.gov/departments/fire
• MedStar Mobile Healthcare (Fort Worth EMS): medstar911.org
• Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office: tarrantcountytx.gov

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

• DriveTexas (real-time Texas road conditions and closures): drivetexas.org
• Texas Department of Transportation, Fort Worth District: txdot.gov
• National Transportation Safety Board: ntsb.gov
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (commercial vehicle safety): fmcsa.dot.gov

Support for Accident Victims and Families

• Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation: tdi.texas.gov/wc
• Texas Department of Insurance Consumer Help Line: 1-800-252-3439
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988 for emotional support): 988lifeline.org
• TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System (C.R.I.S.): cris.dot.state.tx.us

Texas Laws and Regulations

• Texas Transportation Code: statutes.capitol.texas.gov
• Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 71 (Wrongful Death): statutes.capitol.texas.gov
• Texas Labor Code, Title 5 (Workers' Compensation): statutes.capitol.texas.gov

One discrepancy: the story you provided says witnesses helped free the driver, but some other outlets reported the driver was ejected. I kept your source's version.

Sources:

• NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
• WFAA
• KVUE
• FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
• KRLD/Audacy
• WBAP