The Monday morning commute turned to tragedy on Farm-to-Market Road 902 just outside of Collinsville, Texas, when a violent head-on collision claimed the life of a young city employee. The crash occurred in the morning hours along the roadway, also known as West Locust Street, in southeastern Cooke County. State troopers reported that the collision happened when the driver of a pickup truck veered out of its lane and into the path of an oncoming sedan.
The driver of the sedan was identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as 28-year-old Lydia Barnes. Barnes, who was on her way to work at the time of the crash, sustained fatal injuries from the impact. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene. Authorities confirmed that one other person was injured in the two-vehicle collision, though the extent of those injuries and the condition of the wrong-way driver were not immediately released.
Lydia Barnes was a beloved employee of Collinsville City Hall. In a statement expressing profound sadness, city officials confirmed her unexpected passing and acknowledged the loss being felt by her colleagues and the community. The statement highlighted the shock and grief within the local government as staff began processing the sudden tragedy of losing a coworker on what was an ordinary Monday morning.
As of the latest reports, state troopers have not provided details on what may have caused the pickup truck driver to cross into oncoming traffic. The investigation into the precise cause of the crash remains active and ongoing, with authorities working to determine all contributing factors. It is also unclear at this stage whether any charges will be filed in connection with the incident.
The fatal wreck serves as a somber reminder of the dangers present on rural roadways like FM 902. Head-on collisions, often resulting from lane departures, are among the most deadly types of traffic accidents. The community of Collinsville, located about thirty minutes northeast of Denton, is now left to mourn the loss of a young life cut short.
In the aftermath, the focus turns to supporting Barnes’s family, friends, and coworkers while the legal and investigative processes continue. The Texas Department of Public Safety will continue its thorough investigation to provide answers about the sequence of events that led to this fatal wrong-way crash.