A pedestrian was struck and killed Friday morning on the southbound frontage road of Interstate 35 near Loop 337 and Texas 46 in New Braunfels, according to police. Investigators remained on scene for several hours, and authorities had not yet released the victim’s name as they worked to piece together what happened. New Braunfels police said there were no immediate additional details about what led to the collision.
As reported by the San Antonio Express-News, the New Braunfels Police Department confirmed the fatal crash and said officials did not immediately provide further information. The outlet noted that the incident took place on the southbound I-35 frontage road close to the Loop 337 and TX-46 area.
Where It Happened And Planned Work
The busy stretch around Loop 337 has already been on the city’s radar for upgrades. New Braunfels has roughly $33.66 million approved for an I-35 at Loop 337/Rueckle Road interchange improvement that would add lanes and new turnaround access as part of a broader group of pedestrian and intersection projects, according to the City of New Braunfels. City officials say they are working with TxDOT and regional planners to sort out the timing and scope of those efforts.
How This Fits Statewide
The crash comes against a grim statewide backdrop for people on foot. TxDOT’s 2023 crash facts list 807 pedestrian fatalities across Texas and note that a significant share of those deaths occur away from intersections. About 22 percent of pedestrian fatalities happened on interstates, and there were more than 200 crashes involving pedestrians on interstates in 2023, according to TxDOT. Those numbers help explain why the I-35 corridor figures prominently in local and regional safety planning.
The New Braunfels Police Department’s traffic unit is investigating the crash, and officials have asked anyone with information to contact the department, the San Antonio Express-News reported. This story will be updated if the city or NBPD releases additional details.
