LAREDO, Tex — Early Monday morning, a deadly crash on Interstate 35 in Laredo claimed the life of a pedestrian, later identified as 33-year-old Sebastian Guerrero. According to the Laredo Police Department, the accident occurred around 5:45 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the highway, near the 4500 block of I-35.
Responding officers arrived to find Guerrero fatally injured after being struck by a vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel. Officials noted that the crash happened in a particularly dark stretch of the interstate, where lighting is minimal, making visibility difficult for drivers.
Preliminary findings from investigators indicate that Guerrero was struck by a blue Toyota traveling southbound at the time of the incident. Authorities confirmed that the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. Early reports also state that there are no signs the driver was impaired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash.
The Laredo Police Department’s crash team has taken over the case, carefully reconstructing the sequence of events to determine how Guerrero came to be on the roadway. Investigators are also assessing whether environmental factors, such as poor lighting, played a significant role in the collision. Police have not yet released details on whether Guerrero was walking across the lanes, attempting to cross the interstate, or was on foot for another reason.
Pedestrian crashes along major highways like I-35 remain a concern for law enforcement officials. The combination of high traffic speeds, limited visibility, and stretches of road with little or no lighting often leads to dangerous situations. Authorities say it is not uncommon for accidents involving pedestrians on interstate highways to result in serious or fatal injuries, as drivers have little time to react when someone unexpectedly appears in their path.
In this case, investigators emphasized that the driver was not found to be intoxicated, which narrows the focus of the inquiry to roadway conditions, Guerrero’s presence on the interstate, and whether other contributing factors may have been involved. Police are working to gather any additional evidence, including witness statements and possible surveillance footage from nearby businesses or highway cameras, to piece together the moments leading up to the crash.
The fatal collision caused delays for early morning commuters as police temporarily closed sections of the southbound lanes to conduct their investigation. Traffic was rerouted until the roadway was cleared and safe for reopening.
As the investigation continues, officials have urged drivers to exercise caution, especially in poorly lit areas, and reminded pedestrians of the dangers of walking along or attempting to cross interstate highways.
The death of Sebastian Guerrero adds to the troubling number of pedestrian fatalities in Texas each year, a statistic that traffic safety advocates say underscores the importance of improved roadway lighting, pedestrian awareness, and driver vigilance. The Laredo Police Department has not released further updates but confirmed that their crash team is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
