A Washington, D.C.-based civil rights attorney was killed on Tuesday after a UPS delivery truck hit her while she crossed a busy loop in Palestine, Texas. Authorities identified the woman as 52-year-old Elizabeth Paukstis, who had spent her career on post-conviction and civil rights work. Emergency crews took her to Palestine Regional ER, where she was later pronounced dead.
How police say the crash happened
According to Palestine police, the collision happened just before 8 p.m. on S. Loop 256 near S. Sycamore. Investigators say a UPS truck traveling west entered the intersection and struck a pedestrian who was attempting to cross north. Officers found that the pedestrian was wearing dark clothing and was not in a marked crosswalk. The driver stopped and stayed at the scene, and the investigation remains open, KLTV reported.
Her legal work and background
Professional listings describe Paukstis as an attorney with experience in civil rights and post-conviction litigation, including as an associate with Bernabei & Kabat in a profile on Lawyers.com. State bar records and a biography for a Wrongful Conviction Project state that she was licensed to practice in Texas and had worked on post-conviction matters in Austin, according to the Texas Bar.
Local reporting on why she was in East Texas
Local television coverage reports that Paukstis had traveled to East Texas to assist incarcerated clients and had been working with innocence and post-conviction efforts at nearby prison units. The same reporting notes that she lived in Washington, D.C., and was not a resident of Palestine, according to CBS19.
Why Tennessee Colony draws post-conviction lawyers
Tennessee Colony is the informal name for a cluster of Texas Department of Criminal Justice units a few miles south of Palestine, including the Michael, Coffield, and Beto units, which together hold thousands of inmates, according to the TDCJ. Those facilities frequently become the focus of post-conviction and innocence work because many long-term and complex cases originate there, and attorneys often travel from other states to meet clients.
Investigation and next steps
Palestine police say the UPS driver cooperated with officers, and no criminal charges have been announced at this time. Investigators are still collecting witness statements and any available video. City officials and local law enforcement have asked anyone with footage or information to contact the Palestine Police Department, according to the City of Palestine.
Authorities and colleagues in both Texas and Washington said they expect to release additional details as the investigation moves forward, and local officials have urged drivers and pedestrians to use extra caution along the busy S. Loop 256 corridor while inquiries continue, KLTV reported.
