A 42-year-old Texas man died after his pickup truck overturned during a pursuit with state troopers Thursday evening, November 5. Authorities identified the driver as Raul Garcia of Sullivan City. He was partially thrown from the vehicle after it rolled over on Moorefield Road, north of Palmview, in Hidalgo County.
The deadly incident began around 7:20 p.m. when a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper attempted to stop a maroon 2004 Ford F-150 near FM 1924 and Western Road. According to the preliminary investigation, the trooper was attempting to pull the vehicle over for a traffic violation.
Garcia, however, failed to yield to the trooper. He continued driving instead of stopping, setting off a pursuit that would end with his death. Authorities have not disclosed the specific traffic violation that led to the attempted stop.
As the pursuit continued, Garcia drove northbound on Moorefield Road in lanes meant for southbound traffic. He was heading toward FM 676, also known as 5 Mile Road, north of Palmview.
Driving against the flow of traffic, Garcia eventually lost control of the pickup. The truck overturned, and the impact partially ejected him from the vehicle. His injuries were fatal, and emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
The crash happened on Moorefield Road, south of FM 676. Although the incident involved a pursuit by DPS, authorities have described it as a single-vehicle rollover. No additional vehicle involvement was reported in the available account.
Garcia, who was 42 and lived in Sullivan City, died at the scene. Authorities have not released further information about his personal life or the family members he may have left behind.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is continuing its investigation into the fatal crash. Officials have yet to provide additional details about the circumstances leading up to the rollover or why Garcia failed to stop when the trooper attempted to pull him over.
What started with an attempted traffic stop ended with a fatal crash and the loss of a 42-year-old man’s life. Investigators are still working to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the incident.