Premont Man Dies After Being Struck by Pickup on Business 281

A 37-year-old Premont resident, Randy Davila, died after being struck by a pickup while crossing Business 281 just outside the Premont city limits, underscoring safety risks for pedestrians on the county’s main thoroughfare. The crash occurred at about 8:35 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2026, when a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado traveling southbound hit Davila as he crossed the roadway from east to west.

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers said the driver stopped at the scene and called 911. Davila was transported by Allegiance EMS to Christus Spohn Hospital in Alice and was later flown by Halo Flight to Christus Spohn Shoreline in Corpus Christi, where he died of his injuries the following day. Troopers from the Texas Highway Patrol office in Alice are continuing their investigation into the collision.

The location of the crash - on Business 281 near Premont - is a familiar route for residents commuting to Alice and Corpus Christi, and it serves local agriculture and small businesses that rely on the corridor for deliveries and travel. For a tight-knit community like Premont, such a fatality resonates beyond traffic statistics: Davila’s death affects neighbors, families and people who use Business 281 daily for work, school runs and shopping.

The fact that the driver remained at the scene and summoned emergency services may shape the legal and administrative follow-up while the Highway Patrol completes its inquiries. Investigators typically examine factors such as lighting, sight lines, driver speed and pedestrian behavior; any findings could inform future safety measures or enforcement efforts on Business 281.

Local leaders and residents may press for practical changes if the investigation highlights infrastructure gaps - for example, improved street lighting, marked crosswalks, reduced speed limits or targeted patrols during evening hours. Those measures can be costly and require coordination between Jim Wells County, the city of Premont and state transportation authorities, but they also affect local economic activity by making routes safer for workers, customers and schoolchildren.

As troopers continue their work, the immediate takeaway for readers is heightened awareness when traveling the Business 281 corridor after dark. Motorists should drive cautiously through the Premont area, and pedestrians should use visible clothing and cross at established intersections when possible. Authorities have said they will release more information as the investigation progresses, and any community conversation about long-term safety improvements is likely to follow.