A devastating two-vehicle collision claimed the lives of a father and his young child late Thursday night near Robstown in Nueces County, Texas, shattering a family in an instant. The crash occurred at approximately 9:44 p.m. at the intersection of County Road 77 and County Road 36, a rural crossroads where visibility and road conditions can challenge drivers even under normal circumstances.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers described a violent T-bone impact that left both vehicles severely damaged and underscored the deadly consequences of disregarding traffic controls in low-traffic but high-risk areas.
The sequence began when a 2019 Ford Ranger, traveling westbound on County Road 36, failed to stop at the posted sign governing that direction of travel. The pickup proceeded into the intersection directly into the path of a 2005 Buick Rendezvous heading southbound on County Road 77, which held the right of way. The Ford struck the Buick broadside on the driver’s side with tremendous force, spinning and crumpling both vehicles while scattering debris across the roadways in a scene that arriving responders later called chaotic and heartbreaking.
Inside the Buick was 35-year-old Randy Rubio of Corpus Christi, who was driving his three children home—ages 12, 5, and 4—in what authorities believe was a routine evening journey. The impact proved immediately fatal for Rubio, who was pronounced dead at the scene from massive trauma consistent with the direct point of collision.
His young passengers, secured in the vehicle but vulnerable to the sheer energy of the crash, suffered critical injuries that required urgent extraction and transport to separate hospitals across the region as medical teams worked frantically under emergency lights.
Tragically, the youngest child, just 4 years old, succumbed to those injuries early Friday morning despite aggressive treatment at a pediatric facility. The 12-year-old and 5-year-old siblings remained in critical condition, fighting for recovery in intensive care units while medical staff monitored internal injuries, fractures, and other complications common in high-speed side-impact collisions involving children.
The driver of the Ford Ranger, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries requiring airlift transport to Christus Spohn Shoreline Hospital in Corpus Christi for specialized care. Authorities have not released that individual’s identity pending further investigation, which includes analysis of factors such as speed, potential distraction, impairment, or mechanical issues, though initial reports focused primarily on the failure to yield at the stop sign.
Randy Rubio lived a life centered on fatherhood, cherishing the daily responsibilities and joys of raising his young children in Corpus Christi. His role as a devoted parent shone through in moments like safely transporting his kids, reflecting the quiet dedication that defined his family-oriented world. Together with his 4-year-old, they leave behind a legacy of a life well lived, marked by love, protection, and the enduring bonds that sustain families through both ordinary days and profound challenges in Texas communities.