SUNRAY, Moore County, Texas, Sept. 17, 2026 — An Amarillo woman died on Wednesday afternoon, September 16, following a two-vehicle crash in a highway construction zone on US 87 near County Road 8. A second driver was treated for minor injuries.
Authorities said a Chevrolet Traverse was headed west through the work zone around 3:37 p.m. when its driver attempted a U-turn. State troopers said the SUV turned into the path of a westbound Chevrolet Silverado traveling in the adjacent lane, and the pickup struck the SUV.
The Traverse's driver, identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as 40-year-old Brenda Guadalupe Galaviz of Amarillo, was taken to Moore County Hospital with serious injuries. She died there a short time later, according to authorities. The Silverado's driver, a 32-year-old Dumas man, was treated at the same hospital for minor injuries.
Authorities said both drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. Road conditions were reported dry and clear, and the posted speed limit in the work zone was 60 mph. Texas Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, and no additional findings have been released.
Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the person who died.
Construction Zone Crashes and What the Numbers Show
According to the Federal Highway Administration, weather and roadway safety programs use nationally reported fatal-crash data to track work-zone safety in 2023. That tracking exists because work zones change the normal rules of a highway in ways drivers don't always expect: lanes narrow, speeds shift, and vehicles that were once separated by distance can end up side by side.
Turning maneuvers, including U-turns, carry extra risk in these areas because visibility is usually reduced by barrels, signage, or shifted lane markings. A driver who misjudges the speed or position of a vehicle in an adjacent lane has little space to correct before a crash happens.
Federal and state agencies use the crash data from zones like these to decide where to add barriers, adjust speed limits, or change lane configurations. The information from each investigated crash, including this one, feeds into that broader safety picture over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does speed affect whether someone survives a crash like this?
Yes. Lower speeds give drivers more time to react and reduce the force of impact, which lowers the chance of serious or fatal injury, particularly in work zones where reaction time is already limited.
Why does seatbelt use matter in a crash like this one?
Seatbelts keep occupants in position during a collision and reduce the chance of being thrown from the vehicle or striking the interior with full force. Authorities noted both drivers in this crash were belted.
What should families do after a fatal crash like this?
Families can request the official crash report from the investigating agency, which typically becomes available once the review is complete. Many also find it helpful to keep a record of any communications with insurers or agencies during that time.
How are crashes like this investigated?
Troopers typically document the scene, interview witnesses and involved drivers, and reconstruct the sequence of events using physical evidence. A formal report follows once the investigation is complete.
What to Do After a Construction Zone Crash in Sunray, Texas
If you're involved in a crash in a highway work zone, move to a safe location if possible and call 911 right away. Stay alert for passing traffic since work zones sometimes narrow the shoulder or eliminate it.
Seek medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor at first, since some symptoms take hours to appear. Get the names of responding officers and ask how to obtain the official crash report once it's filed.
If you witnessed the crash or have information that could help investigators, contact the Texas Highway Patrol. Keep any documentation from the scene, including photos, in case they're needed later.
