Cole Justin Davila, 20, of San Antonio, died Tuesday afternoon in Bandera County after the motorcycle he was riding fled from a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper and crashed into the rear of a Lexus SUV, according to state authorities. The collision happened shortly after 2 p.m. near the intersection of State Highway 16 South and Farm‑to‑Market Road 1283, and Davila was pronounced dead at the scene.
What DPS Said
According to Bandera Bulletin, the Texas Department of Public Safety reported that a trooper attempted to stop the motorcycle before it "evaded and collided into the rear of a Lexus SUV." The department identified the rider as Cole Justin Davila, 20, and said he was pronounced deceased on scene.
Davila's family is already asking the public for help finding eyewitness footage. In a post shared to the Fallen Riders Facebook group, his father, Eddie Davila, thanked the riding community and asked anyone with photos or video to upload them. "I'm still lost for words," he wrote, according to Bandera Bulletin.
Rural Roads and Rider Risk
Rural, undivided highways like sections of SH 16 can be especially dangerous for motorcyclists, where higher speeds, narrow shoulders and intersections raise the chances of severe injury. TxDOT notes that intersections and vehicle‑motorcycle collisions make up a large share of rider deaths, and a recent study in Scientific Reports found that crashes on rural undivided roads often lead to the most severe outcomes for riders.
Possible Legal Consequences
Evading a peace officer can carry criminal penalties in Texas. Under Texas Penal Code §38.04, intentionally fleeing from a person known to be a peace officer is an offense, and using a vehicle while fleeing can elevate the charge. Local reports state that investigators are still collecting information and have not released further details about any potential charges. Joel A. Gordon & Associates likewise noted that no additional information had been provided.
The Bandera County crash remains under investigation by state and local authorities, and Davila's family has asked the riding community and any witnesses to share photos or video that might assist investigators. This story will be updated if DPS or local officials release more details.
