On the evening of January 19, 2026, a routine stretch of northbound Interstate 35 in Bellmead, Texas, turned deadly when 75-year-old Edward Sparks from nearby Waco attempted to cross the busy highway on foot. The location, near mile marker 339 just south of Loop 340, is part of a heavily traveled corridor connecting Waco to broader Central Texas routes, where high speeds and multi-lane traffic create inherent risks for anyone outside a vehicle.
Around 7 p.m., as dusk settled and visibility began to diminish, Sparks entered the northbound lanes in an effort to traverse the interstate. A GMC Sierra pickup truck traveling northbound struck him directly, delivering catastrophic force that left no chance for survival despite the proximity to urban amenities in Bellmead.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers received dispatch calls promptly and arrived at the scene on northbound I-35 near mile marker 339 in Bellmead, Texas, to find Sparks with fatal injuries sustained from the impact. Emergency medical personnel confirmed the severity on site, pronouncing the 75-year-old dead without need for hospital transport, as the collision’s trauma proved immediately insurmountable.
The driver of the GMC Sierra emerged uninjured from the crash, and no other motorists or passengers reported harm in the incident. This outcome highlighted the isolated vulnerability of pedestrians on interstates designed exclusively for vehicular flow, where even a single crossing attempt can lead to irreversible consequences amid ongoing traffic.
Investigators from the Texas Department of Public Safety initiated a thorough examination of the northbound I-35 site near mile marker 339, documenting vehicle damage, roadway markings, and potential contributing factors like lighting conditions or speed at the time of impact. The active probe focuses on reconstructing Sparks’ movements and the driver’s perspective to determine any preventable elements in this auto-pedestrian fatality.
The death of Edward Sparks on northbound Interstate 35 near mile marker 339 in Bellmead, Texas, serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers posed by attempting to cross major highways on foot, particularly in areas lacking designated pedestrian pathways, leaving a Waco family to grieve while authorities continue seeking full clarity through their ongoing investigation.