Temple 18-Wheeler Strikes Pedestrian on Interstate 35, One Dead

Reported October 18, 2026

Fatal Reported

A person on foot was struck and killed by an 18-wheeler on northbound Interstate 35 near exit 300 in Temple, Texas, on the morning of Sunday, October 18, 2026, according to a news release from the Temple Police Department.

Officers were dispatched to the area at approximately 1:10 a.m. after reports of a vehicle striking a pedestrian, according to a Temple Police Department news release cited by the Temple Daily Telegram. Upon arrival, officers located an 18-wheeler that had struck a pedestrian, and preliminary investigation suggests the individual was on the highway when hit by the truck, police said. The 18-wheeler remained on scene while investigators worked the area.

Justice of the Peace Theodore Duffield pronounced one person dead at the scene, according to the news release. No other injuries were reported at the time of the initial release, police said. The case remains under active investigation, and police indicated that no further information would be released at that time.

• Alternate Route Advisory: The Temple Police Department asked drivers needing to travel through the area to use an alternate route and to expect delays while the Traffic Reconstruction Unit worked the scene.
• Anonymous Tips Accepted: Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477, where callers can report anonymously.
• Online Tips Available: Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at bellcountycrimestoppers.com, according to the police release.

Interstate 35 Through Temple and the Risk to Pedestrians

Interstate 35 is one of the busiest and most consequential freight corridors in the United States, running straight through the heart of Central Texas and passing directly through Temple and the broader Bell County area. Because the highway carries a high volume of commercial truck traffic around the clock, the risk that a person on foot could be struck on or near the travel lanes is significant, and incidents like this one illustrate how quickly a situation on a major freeway can become fatal. Even in the early morning hours when traffic volume is lower overall, commercial trucks often continue operating on tight delivery schedules, meaning their presence on the road is nearly constant.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and safety researchers have long noted that pedestrians on or near active highway lanes face extraordinarily high injury and fatality risk, because vehicle speeds are elevated and drivers have little time to react, much like a fast-moving river that leaves no opportunity to change course. For example, a commercial truck traveling at highway speed requires a much longer stopping distance than a passenger car, and in darkness that stopping distance only grows. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) consistently identifies being on a freeway on foot as one of the highest-risk situations for a pedestrian, and investigations in these cases typically focus on factors such as lighting conditions, whether the pedestrian was visible, and whether the truck driver had any opportunity to avoid the collision.

What Investigators Typically Look At in Pedestrian-Truck Crashes

• Traffic Reconstruction Analysis: Specialized units like the Temple Police Department’s Traffic Reconstruction Unit examine physical evidence at the scene, including skid marks, vehicle damage, and the final positions of both the vehicle and victim, to piece together how the crash unfolded.
• Commercial Vehicle Data: Modern 18-wheelers are often equipped with electronic logging devices and forward-facing cameras, which investigators may review to determine the truck’s speed, braking actions, and driver conditions in the moments before impact.
• Lighting and Visibility Conditions: A crash occurring around 1:10 a.m. on a freeway means investigators will consider ambient lighting at exit 300, whether the pedestrian was wearing reflective clothing, and how well the roadway itself is illuminated at that location.
• Why the Pedestrian Was on the Highway: Understanding what brought a person onto an active freeway is a central question in these cases, and it often shapes the direction of the investigation and any subsequent findings on contributing factors.

Preliminary investigation by Temple police suggested the individual was on the highway when struck, though officials stressed that the case remains open and that no further details would be released while the investigation continues, according to the news release. The Traffic Reconstruction Unit, which handles the most serious crash investigations for the department, remained on scene to conduct a thorough examination of the evidence.

Frequently Asked Questions About This Crash

Where Exactly Did This Crash Happen on Interstate 35

According to the Temple Police Department news release, the crash occurred near exit 300 on northbound Interstate 35 in Temple, Texas.

Who Pronounced the Victim Dead at the Scene

Justice of the Peace Theodore Duffield pronounced one person dead at the scene, according to the police news release, which is standard procedure in Bell County for deaths outside of a hospital.

Were There Any Other Injuries or Vehicles Involved

Police reported no other injuries at the time of the news release, and only one 18-wheeler was identified as involved. The truck remained on scene during the investigation.