A tragic pre-dawn crash on Interstate 35 left a New Braunfels motorcyclist dead and snarled southbound traffic for hours early Sunday morning.
According to police, the collision occurred shortly before 2:30 a.m. near McCarty Lane, when a motorcycle and another southbound vehicle made contact. The initial impact triggered a chain reaction that ultimately involved five cars, scattering debris across the busy highway.
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The rider, identified as 33-year-old Khristian Vicknair, died at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash. Authorities have not released details on whether anyone else was hurt.
Investigators closed the southbound lanes of I-35 for nearly six hours as they documented the wreckage and cleared the twisted metal. Traffic didn’t resume until just after 9 a.m., leaving early-morning commuters backed up for miles.
Police say the cause of the collision remains under investigation. They are working to determine whether speed, driver impairment, or other factors contributed to the deadly pileup.
Highway 35 is among Texas’ busiest and most crash-prone corridors. Sunday’s tragedy adds to a troubling series of fatal wrecks along the route in recent months.
Friends and family in New Braunfels are grieving Vicknair’s sudden loss, remembering him as a vibrant presence whose life ended far too soon.
Authorities urge motorists to stay alert—especially overnight, when fatigue, speeding, and impaired driving increase risks—and to keep a sharp eye out for motorcycles, which can be difficult to spot on crowded highways.
As investigators continue to piece together the events of that morning, the crash stands as a sobering reminder of the dangers that persist on Texas roads.