Itasca, Texas Train Crash Claims Life of Dallas Passenger, Driver Critical

A passenger riding in a FedEx truck has died following a collision with a Union Pacific train at a railroad crossing in Hill County, Texas, near Itasca. The crash occurred Thursday at the crossing near the intersection of State Highway 81 and FM Road 67. Aerial footage captured by SKY 4 showed the FedEx truck had been pushed down the tracks after being struck by the train.

The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed both occupants of the FedEx truck sustained injuries in the crash. One person was airlifted from the scene to a hospital for treatment. DPS announced Friday that the passenger, 25-year-old Sheldon Gutierrez-Rangel of Dallas, died from his injuries. The driver, whose name has not been released, remains in critical condition.

Emergency responders also treated a firefighter at the scene for a heat-related illness sustained while working the incident. Hill County Emergency Management closed SH 81 south of FM 67 and FM 67 west of SH 81 in all directions while crews worked the scene, urging drivers to avoid the area. Union Pacific has stated the crash remains under investigation, and the cause has not been released.

Location and Infrastructure

The crash occurred at a railroad crossing near the intersection of State Highway 81 and FM Road 67 in Hill County, just outside the city of Itasca, a rural community roughly 50 miles south of Fort Worth along the I-35W corridor. This stretch of SH 81 crosses active Union Pacific freight lines, a common feature in rural Hill County where highways and rail corridors intersect at grade-level crossings. Such crossings typically rely on a combination of crossbucks, flashing lights, and in some cases automatic gate arms, though the specific traffic control devices at this crossing have not been detailed by officials. Rural at-grade rail crossings are frequently cited by transportation safety researchers as higher-risk locations due to vehicle speeds, sight-line obstructions, and limited warning infrastructure compared to urban crossings.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Texas law, the family of a person killed in an accident of this nature may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim under the Texas Wrongful Death Act, while the estate may separately pursue a survival action for damages the decedent could have claimed had he survived. Texas generally imposes a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury and wrongful death claims, though exceptions can apply. Texas follows a modified comparative negligence, or "proportionate responsibility," standard, meaning recovery may be reduced or barred depending on the degree of fault attributed to each party. Claims involving a railroad and a commercial carrier such as FedEx may implicate both state negligence law and federal railroad safety regulations, and multiple insurance policies—including commercial auto, railroad liability, and potentially uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage—may be relevant. Compensation in such cases can include medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and damages for pain and suffering, though outcomes depend on the specific facts developed during investigation. This is general information, not legal advice.

Related Resources

Local Emergency Services

• Hill County Emergency Management (Facebook updates on road closures and incident status)
• Hill County Sheriff's Office
• Itasca Fire/EMS

Traffic Safety Resources

• Texas Department of Transportation – Railroad Crossing Safety: https://www.txdot.gov/safety/railroad-crossing-safety.html
• Texas Department of Public Safety – Crash Reports: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/crash-reports
• Operation Lifesaver Texas (rail crossing safety education): https://oli.org

State Traffic Laws and Regulations

• Texas Transportation Code: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.1.htm
• Texas DMV Crash Report Information: https://www.txdmv.gov

Support Services for Accident Victims

• Texas Crime Victim Services / Office of the Attorney General Victim Assistance: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/crime-victims
• National Compassionate Friends (grief support for families): https://www.compassionatefriends.org

This content is based on confirmed reporting as of the initial coverage. Details may be updated as the investigation into the crash's cause continues.