Benjamin Lee Faulk Killed in La Ward Hit-and-Run Accident
Troopers are searching for the driver who fled after striking a man changing a tire on Highway 172
Benjamin Lee Faulk, 36, of New Braunfels, was killed in a hit-and-run crash on State Highway 172 near La Ward on Sept. 8, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Troopers are actively searching for the driver who fled the scene. Investigators noted that two vehicles were seen pulling onto the northbound shoulder about 100 yards away before leaving the area, and authorities are working to identify those potential witnesses.
Faulk was changing a tire on a travel trailer when a passing vehicle struck him. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:56 p.m.
The crash remains under investigation.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), hit-and-run crashes accounted for 2,872 traffic deaths nationwide in 2023.
The sudden loss of a loved one in a hit-and-run leaves families grappling with deep grief and unanswered questions. While the Texas Department of Public Safety works to identify the fleeing driver, securing evidence quickly is critical in cases such as this.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Identifying a driver speeding away quickly from a fatal crash can take many days or even several weeks, leaving grieving relatives without answers during an already painful and uncertain time."
"A legal team works closely alongside law enforcement, reviewing paint transfer, vehicle parts, and nearby camera footage, piecing together clues eventually helping bring accountability closer within reach for suffering families," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
What clues did witnesses report on State Highway 172?
Troopers are focusing on the two vehicles seen pulling onto the northbound shoulder shortly after the impact. Identifying these drivers could provide important eyewitness testimony or dashcam footage to help reconstruct the sequence of events and identify the vehicle that fled.
Texas wrongful death statute
Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 71.001, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Texas applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium, funeral expenses, and mental anguish.
"Hit-and-run crash scenes demand immediate physical canvassing to recover fragmented debris before traffic or weather destroys evidence," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "An attorney assists affected families by dispatching private investigative resources, securing local business security video, and helping surviving relatives navigate initial uninsured motorist claims during active police searches."