Three Dead in SH 71 Work-Zone Crash Near Tucker Hill Lane: Two TxDOT Contractors and the Driver, DPS Investigating
A westbound vehicle crossed into an active construction area on State Highway 71 early Thursday and struck both workers, the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office said. The Texas Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation, and no cause has been released.
Three people are dead after a vehicle crashed into an active highway work zone on State Highway 71 near Tucker Hill Lane, near the Travis-Bastrop county line, in the early morning hours of Thursday, October 29. The Bastrop County Sheriff's Office said two contracted construction workers and the driver of the vehicle were killed, FOX 7 Austin reported. The driver was a 26-year-old woman driving a Nissan sedan, according to the sheriff's confirmation reported by CBS Austin, and all westbound lanes were closed for about two hours Thursday.
Investigators said the vehicle was traveling westbound on SH 71 when it crossed into the restricted construction area, fatally striking both workers, FOX 7 reported. The Texas Department of Public Safety is leading the active crash investigation. The victims' identities and the factors leading up to the crash have not been released, and this desk claims no cause the investigators have not stated.
Jordan Foster Construction confirmed the two workers killed were employees of the company, FOX 7 reported. The Texas Department of Transportation released a statement extending condolences to the victims' families and urging drivers to exercise vigilance on the road. The crash happened in a corridor that has seen significant construction since October, with the broader project slated to continue through fall 2028.
For the people who work along the corridor, Thursday's deaths landed on an existing worry. Suzanne Bishop, who works at a business near the corridor, told FOX 7 the workers come into her store all the time and her heart goes out to the families, and she described traffic patterns that are constantly changing. Bastrop resident David Williams urged motorists to be aware, be safe and be sober. Drivers through the SH 71 work zone this weekend should expect shifting patterns, slow down, and move over for workers — the investigation continues, and this desk will update the file when DPS releases names or findings.
