A tragic three vehicle collision unfolded on Thursday morning February 26 2026 along the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 in northwest San Antonio Texas at the Camp Bullis Road exit near the corner of IH 10 West southbound and the entrance to The Rim shopping district.
The crash reported around 10:21 a.m. involved multiple trucks on this busy stretch of highway that connects San Antonio to the Hill Country and carries heavy morning traffic from commuters and travelers heading toward downtown attractions or local retail areas. San Antonio Police Department units arrived quickly to a chaotic scene where one driver had been fatally injured leaving the major corridor closed for several hours during peak travel time.
The incident began with a minor collision between two trucks that prompted Patrick Chase McPhaul to pull over and step outside his vehicle to speak with the other driver about exchanging information. While McPhaul stood beside his truck a third vehicle identified as a Chevy work truck approached from behind at significant speed and slammed into the rear of his truck pushing it forward.
The force struck McPhaul directly slamming him into a concrete barrier before the work truck hit the wreckage a second time in a devastating chain reaction. His young son Raider who was riding with him witnessed the entire sequence from the shoulder of the interstate.
Patrick Chase McPhaul 42 a resident of Big Lake in Reagan County had been traveling with his son toward the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo one of their most anticipated family outings each year filled with livestock exhibitions rodeo events and shared moments celebrating Texas agriculture.
Known affectionately as Chase he served as a dedicated county extension agent and 4 H mentor helping generations of young people across West Texas develop skills in livestock care showmanship and leadership through hands on programs that built confidence and community ties. His passion for these events and his role in guiding families made the timing of the journey especially poignant as father and son headed to create lasting memories at the annual celebration.
Good Samaritans driving past the scene near The Rim shopping district immediately stopped and provided critical first aid to McPhaul performing life saving measures until San Antonio police and emergency medical services arrived on scene. Paramedics transported him in critical condition to a local trauma center where despite aggressive treatment he was pronounced dead at 11:08 a.m. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office later officially identified him confirming the extent of injuries sustained in the pedestrian strike during the multi vehicle pileup.
The collision shut down all westbound lanes of Interstate 10 for several hours causing major backups that forced drivers to seek detours through surface streets around Camp Bullis Road and the surrounding northwest side neighborhoods. San Antonio police documented the positions of the three trucks collected physical evidence and interviewed witnesses while coordinating with the Texas Department of Transportation to clear the roadway safely. The active investigation continues to examine factors such as vehicle speeds visibility at the exit ramp and the precise circumstances of the initial minor crash that escalated so rapidly.
Family members and the broader West Texas community have expressed profound grief over the loss of a man remembered as a loving father husband son and mentor whose impact through agriculture and youth programs touched countless lives. Tributes highlight his unwavering dedication to his children and his role in supporting 4 H families at major stock shows including the San Antonio event he never reached that day.
