An 8-year-old Matteo Hernandez, a second-grade student at Prairie View Elementary in the Northwest Independent School District, was killed in a devastating three-vehicle crash on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The collision occurred around 3:45 p.m. at the intersection of Texas State Highway 114 and Alliance Boulevard, near the entrance to the By Well Estates neighborhood in Rhome, Texas.
According to investigators, Matteo was riding in a sedan driven by his grandmother as they traveled home from school. While attempting to turn left into the neighborhood from Texas 114, their vehicle was struck on the passenger side by a three-quarter-ton pickup truck traveling eastbound on the highway. The impact was so forceful that it pushed the sedan into a third vehicle, compounding the severity of the crash.
Emergency responders arrived quickly and found Matteo unresponsive. Paramedics managed to briefly revive him at the scene before he was airlifted to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth. Tragically, he was pronounced dead before arrival. His death has left the community heartbroken, especially those at Prairie View Elementary, where Matteo was known as a bright and cheerful student.
The driver of the sedan, Matteo’s grandmother, sustained serious injuries including a broken hip and spinal fracture. She was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where she remains under medical care. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured, and the occupants of the third vehicle involved in the crash suffered only minor injuries and did not require hospitalization.
Matteo’s mother has since spoken out, calling for immediate safety improvements at the intersection where the crash occurred. She emphasized the need for better signage, reduced speed limits, and traffic control measures to prevent future tragedies. The intersection of Texas 114 and Alliance Boulevard has been a point of concern for local residents due to its high-speed traffic and limited visibility for turning vehicles.
The Texas Department of Public Safety continues to investigate the crash. No charges have been filed at this time, and authorities are reviewing all contributing factors including speed, visibility, and right-of-way. As the community mourns the loss of a young life full of promise, Matteo’s family is being supported through vigils, school memorials, and a growing call for change to ensure no other family endures such a heartbreaking loss.