On Thursday, January 15, 2026, just before 9:44 p.m., a fatal two-vehicle crash occurred at the rural intersection of County Road 77 and County Road 36, near Robstown in Nueces County. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), a preliminary investigation revealed the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.
A 2019 Ford Ranger was traveling westbound on County Road 36. For reasons still under investigation, the driver of the Ford failed to stop at a posted stop sign at the intersection. The pickup truck proceeded directly into the path of a 2005 Buick Rendezvous that was lawfully traveling southbound on County Road 77.
The Ford Ranger struck the Buick on the driver’s side with significant force. The impact sent both vehicles off the roadway. The Buick was driven by 35-year-old Randy Rubio of Corpus Christi, who was transporting his three children—ages 12, 5, and 4. Rubio was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel who responded to the crash.
All three children in the Buick were critically injured in the collision. Emergency crews transported two of the children to Driscoll Children’s Hospital, while the third was initially taken to Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital before also being transferred to Driscoll for specialized care. Despite these efforts, the 4-year-old child succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead in the early hours of Friday, January 16.
The driver of the Ford Ranger was airlifted from the scene by HALO Flight to Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital, where he was reported to be in critical condition. His identity has not been released to the public.
The crash remains under active investigation by troopers with the DPS Highway Patrol Office in Corpus Christi. As of the latest reports, no additional information, including potential charges, has been released by authorities.
