A 56‑year‑old man from Lutz, Florida, died Saturday evening when his pickup was caught in a huge, weather‑related crash involving about 20 vehicles on Interstate 10 in Kimble County, Texas, state troopers and local officials say. The crash happened near mile marker 470, just southeast of Junction, as an arctic cold front swept across the region and coated roadways with freezing rain and sleet.
Robert John Tracy was driving his 2017 Toyota pickup eastbound on I‑10 around 6:30 p.m. when another vehicle hit him, sending his truck off the road into a ditch. That first impact set off a violent chain reaction that swept across the highway, involving semi‑trucks, box trucks, vans and many cars. One detached trailer even fell onto Tracy’s vehicle in the force of the crash.
Emergency crews from the Texas Department of Public Safety and fire departments rushed to the chaotic scene through freezing, slick conditions. They found Tracy still in his pickup and, despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene by a local justice of the peace.
At least eight other people were hurt in the pileup, with some taken to Kimble Hospital and others treated on site, officials said. Dozens of those involved were sheltered overnight at local warming centers as crews worked through the night to clear the wreckage from both directions of I‑10.
The crash shut down the interstate for hours, snarling traffic and forcing drivers to sit in dangerously cold weather. By early Sunday, most lanes were reopened, though parts of the highway remained blocked for cleanup into the next day. Authorities urged motorists to avoid travel in icy conditions and to slow down, leave extra space between vehicles and stay alert to changing road surfaces.
Troopers continue investigating the exact sequence of events that led up to the deadly crash. While icy roads and poor visibility were major factors, deputies want to talk with all drivers and witnesses to piece together how so many vehicles became entangled. No charges or citations have been announced, and officials expect to release more information as the review continues.
Friends and family of Robert Tracy have begun sharing memories of a devoted father and hardworking man now gone too soon, reminding everyone of the fragile line between routine travel and tragedy. The Texas Department of Public Safety is urging anyone with photos or video of the crash to come forward to help with the investigation.
