Bastrop, Texas: Three Dead in SH 71 Construction Zone Crash Near Tucker Hill Lane

Three people are dead after a car entered an active highway construction zone on State Highway 71 near Tucker Hill Lane in western Bastrop County early Thursday, October 29, according to the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office said the vehicle was traveling westbound on SH 71 when it crossed into the restricted construction area and fatally struck two contracted construction workers. The driver of the vehicle also died. CBS Austin, citing the sheriff, reported the driver was a 26-year-old woman driving a Nissan sedan. Authorities have not released the names of any of the three people killed.

The two workers were employees of Jordan Foster Construction, the company confirmed. They were working on a Texas Department of Transportation project that is building a new SH 71 overpass over the Tucker Hill Lane intersection, along with new frontage roads. TxDOT first confirmed the deaths of its two contractors on Thursday morning, and the sheriff later confirmed the third death, the driver, bringing the total to three.

Highway closed for about two hours

The crash shut down the westbound side of the highway near the Travis County and Bastrop County line during the morning. A TxDOT alert at 5:27 a.m. reported the right westbound lane closed at Tucker Hill Lane because of a major collision. TxDOT then announced that all westbound lanes were closed. KVUE reported the closure that morning, and TxDOT said all lanes had reopened by 7:03 a.m., after a closure of about two hours.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is leading the crash investigation. Investigators have not said what caused the car to enter the work zone, and they have not released the sequence of the collision. No charges or contributing factors have been announced.

A corridor neighbors already feared

TxDOT released a statement extending condolences to the families of the victims and urging drivers to stay alert on the road. The project corridor has been under construction since October, and FOX 7 Austin reported the broader work is scheduled to continue through fall 2028, with traffic patterns shifting as the overpass takes shape.

People who work near the corridor told FOX 7 the changing patterns worry them. Suzanne Bishop, who works at a business near the highway, said the workers killed came into her store regularly and that her heart goes out to their families. She said the traffic patterns change so often that even people who drive the corridor every day are unsure which way they will be routed. Bastrop resident David Williams told the station the construction has brought traffic jams and pileups, and he urged drivers to stay aware, stay safe, and stay sober.

Work zone safety is the point TxDOT pressed after the crash, reminding drivers to slow down and move over where the law requires it. For Bastrop County, the next facts will come from the DPS investigation: the names of the three people killed, once families are notified, and any finding on why the car left the open lanes and entered the restricted area where the two Jordan Foster crews were working.