It was a grim start today along I‑35 in Dallas, where the southbound lanes near Royal Lane were shut down after a fatal crash involving a pedestrian, according to the Dallas County Sheriff's Department. Deputies responded to a major-crash call in the early morning hours and routed drivers off at the Royal Lane exit while investigators worked the scene. A Texas Department of Transportation camera image that accompanied the sheriff's post was timestamped about 2:13 a.m.
What officials say
In a social media update, the Dallas County Sheriff's Department described the incident as a fatal pedestrian crash and confirmed that all southbound lanes at Royal Lane were closed. Deputies said traffic was being pushed to the Royal Lane exit while crash investigators processed the area, noting that the post included an image from a Texas Department of Transportation camera.
Investigation and detours
The sheriff's post stated that "southbound I‑35 is shut down" and urged drivers to follow posted detours, according to the Dallas County Sheriff's Department. Officials have not yet released the pedestrian's identity or described the circumstances leading up to the crash, and investigators say their work remains ongoing.
Pedestrian safety in Texas
Pedestrian deaths continue to be a stubborn problem in Texas. Per TxDOT's 2024 crash facts, pedestrian fatalities reached 768 in 2024, with a higher share of deadly crashes occurring during the early-morning hours. That data highlights the risks pedestrians face on fast-moving corridors like I‑35.
Drivers should expect lingering delays in the area while the scene is fully cleared. Officials typically advise avoiding the affected stretch and using alternate routes until investigators finish their on-site work. The sheriff's department said it plans to share further updates on its social channels as more details become available.
