Juan Pablo Rios Aguilar Obituary, Death News – Authorities in Garland, Texas, are investigating a tragic accident that claimed the life of a man early Friday morning after a vehicle driven by a police officer collided with a truck stopped on the roadway. According to the Garland Police Department, the incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. on the 1500 block of West State Street near McKinley Street. The department said that one of its officers had just left the police station and was driving east when their vehicle came upon a truck stopped in the middle of the eastbound lanes. The truck’s lights were reportedly turned off at the time, and a man was standing in front of it when the collision happened.
Officials identified the man as 32-year-old Juan Pablo Rios Aguilar, who lived nearby at the intersection where the crash took place. Police said that after the impact, emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene, and Rios Aguilar was taken to a nearby hospital, where he sadly passed away from his injuries.
The officer involved in the crash was also taken to the hospital for treatment and was later released. Police noted that the officer tried to avoid the collision but was unable to do so because the truck was blocking the lane. Investigators said that visibility was limited due to darkness at the time of the accident.
The department’s initial report explained that the officer’s vehicle hit both the stopped truck and the man standing in front of it. Officials did not immediately confirm why the truck was stopped in the middle of the roadway or whether it had broken down. No other vehicles were reported to be involved in the crash.
The Garland Police Department issued a public statement expressing condolences to everyone affected by the incident, calling it a heartbreaking situation for the community and the department. “This is a tragic event, and our thoughts are with everyone impacted as the investigation continues,” the statement read.
Investigators from the Garland Police Department’s Traffic Division are leading the case. They are reviewing the officer’s body camera footage, the patrol vehicle’s dashcam video, and any available surveillance from nearby homes or businesses to better understand how the events unfolded. Witnesses are also being interviewed to determine the circumstances that led up to the collision.
Residents living near the crash site told local reporters that the area can be dark in the early morning hours, especially along that section of State Street, which has limited street lighting. They described hearing a loud impact and seeing flashing emergency lights shortly after. Some noted that traffic in the area was temporarily diverted as police worked to clear the scene and begin their investigation.
Authorities have not yet released the name of the officer involved. They emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that all findings will be reviewed carefully to ensure a complete and transparent understanding of what occurred.
As of Friday afternoon, there were no updates on whether any citations or disciplinary actions would be taken. The department stated that additional information would be released once the investigation progresses and that the findings would be shared with the public when appropriate.
Police are asking anyone who may have been driving in the area at the time of the crash or who has relevant information to contact the Garland Police Department’s Traffic Unit.
The collision has drawn sympathy from both residents and law enforcement colleagues, who described the situation as a tragic reminder of how quickly accidents can happen on dark roads. Authorities said they remain focused on determining all contributing factors to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The investigation is ongoing.
