Fatal two car crash shuts State Highway 359 south of Orange Grove

A fatal crash just before 7 a.m. Tuesday on State Highway 359 at Farm to Market Road 1539 left one man dead and two others injured, authorities confirmed. The Texas Department of Public Safety said a truck driven by a 19 year old man from Alice crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a Chevrolet Silverado now identified as being driven by Francisco Costilla. Costilla was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Silverado was carrying a 17 year old male passenger from Corpus Christi who was taken to Christus Spohn in Alice for treatment. The driver of the Ford F 250 was transported to Christus Spohn Shoreline in Corpus Christi. Crews cleared the scene later in the morning and State Highway 359 was reopened after the roadway had been closed for several hours during the investigation.

Investigators with the San Diego Highway Patrol Office were looking into whether low visibility due to heavy fog in the area was a factor in the collision. Officials had not yet been able to speak with the surviving crash victims as investigators worked to reconstruct the events that led to the head on impact.

For Jim Wells County residents this crash raises immediate public health and community safety concerns. Early morning fog is a known hazard on rural highways where limited lighting and higher speed limits increase the risk of serious collisions. The need for clearer weather advisories, improved roadside warning systems, and targeted public information about driving in reduced visibility is underscored by this fatality.

The responses by emergency medical services and regional hospitals also illustrate the broader challenge facing rural communities. With serious injuries routed to facilities in Alice and Corpus Christi, the incident highlights reliance on regional trauma resources and the importance of coordinated ambulance and hospital transfer protocols during holiday travel periods.

As DPS continues its investigation families and neighbors are left to grieve and to consider what steps can reduce similar tragedies. Local officials, transportation planners, and public health advocates will likely need to weigh investments in infrastructure and outreach that could prevent fog related crashes and improve outcomes when emergencies occur.