Fatal Motorcycle Crash on I-35 South in New Braunfels

Reported September 10, 2026

Fatal

A 22-year-old motorcyclist was killed late Tuesday night on Interstate 35 South in New Braunfels after he was thrown from his bike and struck by multiple vehicles, leaving a roughly five-and-a-half-hour stretch of the southbound freeway shut down while investigators worked the scene.

What Happened on Southbound I-35

According to a press release from the city of New Braunfels, as reported by News 4 San Antonio, the crash happened at about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, in the 2400 block of I-35 South on the southbound main lanes near the Schmidt Avenue overpass. Officers noted that the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time, but the force of the crash ejected him from the bike, and he was subsequently struck by multiple vehicles. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and next of kin has been notified, police said.

The New Braunfels Police Department Traffic Unit took over the scene for a thorough investigation, requiring the closure of that section of southbound I-35 for roughly five and a half hours, police said. No criminal charges are expected at this time, though the incident remains under active investigation, according to the press release.

• Helmet Use Confirmed: Officers confirmed the rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, though ejection from the motorcycle and the subsequent multi-vehicle contact proved fatal.
• Prolonged Road Closure: The southbound lanes of I-35 near the Schmidt Avenue overpass remained closed for about 5.5 hours, a sign of the complexity involved when a Traffic Unit conducts a full crash reconstruction at night on a busy interstate corridor.
• No Criminal Charges Expected: Police said no criminal charges are anticipated at this time, suggesting early indicators point to an accident rather than any deliberate act, though the investigation is ongoing.
• Multi-Agency Response: Both the New Braunfels Police Department and the New Braunfels Fire Department were dispatched to the scene following reports of a motorcycle accident.

Why I-35 Through New Braunfels Carries Elevated Risk for Motorcyclists

Interstate 35 through New Braunfels is one of the most heavily traveled corridors in central Texas, connecting San Antonio to Austin through Comal County. The stretch carries a dense mix of commuter traffic, long-haul trucking, and recreational travelers heading to and from the Texas Hill Country, and that volume doesn’t drop to zero even late at night. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has long flagged the I-35 corridor between San Antonio and Austin as one of the state’s most congested and crash-prone stretches of roadway, making it an especially unforgiving environment for motorcyclists at any hour.

For motorcyclists in particular, ejection from the bike after a crash is among the most dangerous outcomes, because it exposes the rider to secondary strikes from other vehicles, much like a chain reaction where one event sets off a series of additional hazards. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) consistently reports that motorcyclists are roughly 24 times more likely per mile traveled to die in crashes than occupants of passenger vehicles, largely because motorcycles offer no protective shell. For example, a rider thrown onto an active freeway lane at night faces severely reduced visibility from approaching drivers who may have only a fraction of a second to react. Helmet use, while critically important for reducing head injuries, cannot fully protect a rider who lands in active traffic.

• Night Riding Visibility: Reduced ambient light after dark makes it harder for both motorcyclists and other drivers to judge speed and distance, which raises the risk of a rider being unseen in time to avoid a collision.
• High-Speed Interstate Lanes: Freeway speeds mean that when a crash does occur, secondary strikes happen quickly and with far greater force than on surface streets, leaving little time for other motorists to stop or swerve.
• Ejection Risk on Motorcycles: Unlike passenger vehicle occupants restrained by seat belts and surrounded by airbags, motorcyclists can be thrown significant distances if the front wheel locks or a collision occurs, making the initial crash only part of the danger.
• Traffic Unit Crash Reconstruction: When a fatality occurs on a Texas freeway, specialized traffic investigators often use measurements, photographs, and vehicle data to reconstruct the sequence of events, a process that can take many hours and typically requires closing lanes to preserve the scene.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Was I-35 Closed for Over Five Hours After This Crash

Police said the New Braunfels Police Department Traffic Unit was conducting a crash investigation at the scene, which is standard procedure when a fatality occurs on a public roadway. Investigators need to document physical evidence, measure skid marks, photograph vehicle positions, and interview witnesses, all of which requires a cleared and controlled environment, particularly on a busy freeway at night.

Does Wearing a Helmet Guarantee Survival in a Motorcycle Crash

Helmet use significantly reduces the risk of fatal and serious head injuries in a crash, and NHTSA credits helmets with saving thousands of lives each year. However, a helmet is designed to protect the head and brain, not the rest of the body, and it cannot fully protect a rider who is ejected onto a live freeway and struck by multiple vehicles at highway speeds, as appears to have been the case in this incident.

What Does “No Criminal Charges Expected” Mean in a Fatal Crash Investigation

When police indicate that no criminal charges are expected, it generally means that early evidence does not suggest intentional conduct or gross negligence such as intoxication, racing, or deliberate recklessness. The investigation remains open, and officials could revise that assessment if new evidence emerges, but the current statement reflects the preliminary direction of the inquiry, according to the New Braunfels Police Department.