SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The San Antonio community is grieving after a heartbreaking crash on Interstate 10 claimed the life of 42-year-old Patrick C. McPhaul on Thursday morning, February 26. The fatal incident unfolded in northwest San Antonio and led to the closure of major westbound lanes for several hours as investigators worked at the scene.

According to the San Antonio Police Department, the sequence of events began with a minor collision involving McPhaul’s vehicle. Authorities said McPhaul had stepped out of his car to speak with another driver following the initial crash. What started as a routine roadside exchange quickly turned tragic.

Police reported that as McPhaul attempted to return to his vehicle, he was struck by a Chevy work truck traveling along Interstate 10. The impact reportedly sent him into a concrete barrier, where he was hit a second time. The sudden and violent chain of events left drivers in shock and brought traffic to a standstill during the busy late-morning hours.

The crash occurred at approximately 10:21 a.m. near the Camp Bullis Road exit, close to The Rim shopping district — a heavily traveled area of the city. Emergency responders arrived swiftly and transported McPhaul to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at 11:08 a.m., according to Bexar County records.

Westbound lanes of I-10 were shut down for several hours as officers conducted a detailed investigation, documented the scene, and cleared the wreckage. Commuters were forced to seek alternate routes while authorities worked to determine all contributing factors in the fatal crash.

Officials have not released additional details regarding potential charges or citations, and the investigation remains ongoing. As family and friends mourn the sudden loss of Patrick McPhaul, the tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the dangers motorists face when exiting vehicles on busy highways, even after seemingly minor accidents.