AMARILLO, Texas | August 9, 2026 | TWOSU News
By: Tim O’friel
A pickup truck that police say ran a red light in downtown Amarillo triggered a violent collision early Friday that sent a fuel tanker crashing into the ABC 7/KVII television studio.
The crash happened at approximately 12:30 a.m. August 7 near Southeast 11th Avenue and South Pierce Street.
According to Amarillo police, a Dodge Ram 2500 driven by 19-year-old Elijah Rey Garcia entered the intersection against a red light and collided with a WTG fuel truck.
The force of the collision redirected the commercial vehicle and its trailer toward the nearby television station, where the tanker struck the ABC 7 building.
Despite the involvement of a fuel tanker and significant damage from the crash, authorities reported no fire and no injuries.
Pickup Driver Accused of Leaving the Scene
Police say the driver of the pickup left the scene following the collision.
Investigators later identified Garcia as the suspected driver. ABC 7 reported that multiple open alcohol containers were found inside the pickup.
According to subsequent reporting from the station, Garcia told police that he intended to surrender Saturday. As of the station’s Sunday morning update, however, he had not turned himself in.
ABC 7 also reported that Garcia had recently faced separate allegations involving DWI, drugs and a firearm. Those allegations are separate from the investigation into Friday’s collision.
Crash Causes Significant Damage to ABC 7
The collision caused extensive damage to the television station building, but the incident could have had far more serious consequences given the size of the vehicles involved and the fact that one was transporting fuel.
Images from the scene show substantial damage to the front of the WTG truck following the impact.
The tanker did not catch fire.
The crash also demonstrates how a single traffic violation at an intersection can rapidly develop into a major commercial-vehicle collision. A fully loaded tractor-trailer cannot maneuver or stop like a passenger vehicle, leaving professional drivers with limited options when another motorist suddenly enters their path.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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