A father driving his son to a basketball game recorded a truck losing control on I‑35 in San Antonio and smashing into a highway sign just after 8 a.m. near the New Braunfels exit (RT‑281). The impact toppled the sign and scattered debris into lanes, closing traffic for hours. The 29‑year‑old truck driver told police he was cut off, suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. The father said he is grateful the sign did not strike his car or his son.
Dad Filming Drive With Son Captures Truck Slamming Into Highway Sign On I‑35 — Near Miss Leaves Family Shaken
Stock photo of an accident happening on a roadGetty
A father driving his son to a basketball game captured a startling crash on I‑35 in San Antonio when a pickup-style truck lost control and struck the pole holding a highway sign, sending the structure and debris into the roadway and closing lanes for hours.
Amador Rodriguez told KENS 5 he was driving north on I‑35 just after 8 a.m. Saturday when he noticed a truck merge onto the highway. Rodriguez said the truck’s movements looked erratic and that the left side may have hydroplaned. Rather than trying to pass, he kept a safe distance behind the vehicle.
As Rodriguez passed beneath RT‑281 near the New Braunfels exit, he had a bad feeling and pulled out his phone to record. Moments later, the truck veered off the road and slammed into the sign pole, toppling the sign and sending chunks of metal and debris into the lanes.
"I felt panic. I felt a little bit of like, is this thing going to come all the way down? Is it going to stop?" Rodriguez told the station.
With debris falling, Rodriguez said he gave his car "just a little bit of gas" to move forward and clear the hazard. He stopped filming immediately and called the San Antonio Police Department but did not pull over because he didn't want to put his son at further risk.
A police report cited by KENS 5 identified the truck driver as a 29‑year‑old man who told officers another driver had cut him off, causing him to lose control. The truck driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and is expected to recover. Authorities closed lanes while crews cleared the scene and inspected the damaged sign, disrupting traffic for several hours.
Rodriguez said he remains shaken by how close the falling sign came to hitting his vehicle. "And I'm thankful, very thankful that that sign did not follow me, my son," he told the station.
What Happened Next
Police and highway crews responded to the scene, and investigators are reviewing the crash report. No additional injuries were reported to other motorists in the immediate aftermath.
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