Passenger, 38, Killed After Vehicle Leaves Northbound I-35 Near Exit 2 in Laredo and Hits Light Pole

Published by Dunk Law Firm

Published:

Branded Dunk Law Firm news card about the fatal crash on northbound I-35 near Exit 2 in Laredo, Texas, on November 8, 2026, with police-sourced facts and the phone number 888-551-3865. The background is an AI-generated editorial illustration, not the actual crash scene: an empty highway at night under streetlights.

LAREDO, Texas — A 38-year-old woman riding as a passenger was killed early Sunday, November 8, 2026, when the vehicle she was in went out of control on northbound Interstate 35 near Exit 2 and struck a light pole, according to Laredo Police Department information reported by the Laredo Morning Times and KGNS.

Police identified her as Susana Gabriela Calderón. The crash happened at about 4:30 a.m. The Morning Times reported that a white Porsche SUV traveling north lost control near Exit 2, went off the embankment and collided with a light pole, with Calderón in the front passenger seat. KGNS described the vehicle as a truck and reported that it ended up near San Dario and Blair.

"They were both unconscious, they never regained consciousness when first responders arrived. They took them both to the hospital immediately, and unfortunately, that's where the female passenger passed away," Joe Baeza told KGNS. The 35-year-old driver, who was not named in the sources reviewed, remained in critical condition. The LPD Crash Team is investigating, and KGNS reported that weather is being considered as a factor.

We extend our sympathy to Ms. Calderón's family and loved ones.

Key Facts

  • Location: Northbound I-35 near Exit 2, ending near San Dario and Blair, Laredo, Webb County (LPD, via KGNS and the Morning Times)
  • Date and time: Sunday, November 8, 2026, about 4:30 a.m. (LPD)
  • Vehicle: One vehicle. The Morning Times describes a white Porsche SUV; KGNS describes a truck.
  • Deaths: Susana Gabriela Calderón, 38, front-seat passenger; died at a hospital (LPD, KGNS)
  • Injuries: The 35-year-old driver, critical condition (LPD)
  • Investigation: LPD Crash Team; weather being considered as a factor (KGNS)

Sources checked as of November 10, 2026, 7:24 a.m. CST. This line is not the article's publication date.

What Makes This Crash Different

This was a single-vehicle crash with a passenger killed and the driver critically hurt. In crashes like this, families often feel stuck: the driver may be a relative or friend, and it can feel wrong to ask questions. A passenger's family can still need answers about what happened and what insurance may be available, and asking is not an accusation.

The sources also differ on one basic detail, the type of vehicle, and KGNS reported that weather is being considered. Both points are reasons to wait for the crash report before drawing conclusions.

Questions Investigators May Examine

  • Road and weather conditions on I-35 near Exit 2 at about 4:30 a.m.
  • Why the driver lost control, and the vehicle's speed and path down the embankment.
  • The condition of the vehicle, including tires and any event-data recorder.
  • The light pole's location and any roadside barriers.
  • What insurance applies to the vehicle and its driver.

These are investigative questions, not allegations that any driver, agency or company caused the crash.

What Remains Unknown

  • The vehicle type: a white Porsche SUV according to the Morning Times, a truck according to KGNS.
  • The driver's name, which is not reported in the sources reviewed.
  • The cause of the crash, and what role, if any, weather played.

Evidence to Preserve

  • Request the crash report when it is available (see below) and keep the report or case number.
  • Find out where each vehicle is. Vehicles can be held as evidence. A person with legal authority can ask that a vehicle be preserved before it is repaired, salvaged or destroyed, while respecting any law-enforcement hold.
  • Ask about video early. Tell investigators or a lawyer about businesses, traffic cameras or doorbell cameras near I-35 near Exit 2 and San Dario Avenue. Recordings can be overwritten. Do not enter restricted property to get them.
  • Keep original photos, texts and witness contact details without editing them. Access a deceased person's phone or accounts only with proper legal authority.
  • Keep financial, work and insurance records, including funeral costs, medical bills, pay stubs, policies and claim letters.

Our guide on evidence that can disappear after a vehicle collision explains why preservation can matter before an investigation ends. Avoid public accusations, and do not post private family documents.

How to get the crash report. Texas peace officer crash reports (CR-3) are sold through TxDOT's crash reports page and its CRIS purchase site. TxDOT lists $6 for a regular copy and $8 for a certified copy, plus a possible processing charge, and people outside the eligible categories receive a redacted copy. Officers generally have ten days to submit reports, which does not guarantee a report is available on day ten. Requests for scene photos, video or other investigation files go to the investigating agency (Laredo Police Department Crash Team), not TxDOT.

What Families Should Know

This is general information about Texas law, not advice about anyone's claim, and it does not assume anyone is at fault.

Who can bring a wrongful death claim in Texas? Under Civil Practice and Remedies Code §71.004, a wrongful death action is for the exclusive benefit of the surviving spouse, children and parents of the person who died, and one or more of them may bring it for all of them. If none of them files within three calendar months after the death, the executor or administrator must bring it unless all of them ask otherwise. That three-month rule is not the overall filing deadline.

What is the deadline? CPRC §16.003(b) generally requires a suit for injury resulting in death to be brought within two years after the cause of action accrues, and it says the claim accrues on the death of the injured person. Tolling and special rules can apply, so nothing here is a calculated deadline for any family. A person who was injured but survived has a separate personal-injury provision in §16.003(a).

How does fault work? Under CPRC Chapter 33, a claimant found more than 50 percent responsible cannot recover damages, and a lower percentage reduces damages by that share. In a death case, the fault of the person who died can count. Fault is decided on the evidence, and the sources we reviewed do not make a final finding.

Damages. Texas wrongful death damages are awarded in proportion to the injury under §71.010, which does not state a fixed dollar ceiling. That does not mean "no caps" in every situation: exemplary (punitive) damages, claims against government entities and health-care claims follow separate rules that need individual legal review.

A wrongful death lawyer can explain these rules without assuming anyone is responsible. Before signing an insurance release, understand which claims it settles and whether you have authority to sign it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a passenger's family bring a claim when the driver was someone they know? It may be possible, depending on the facts and the insurance involved. A lawyer can explain how claims usually go through insurance coverage, without assuming the driver was at fault.

What did police say about the cause? Police have not announced a cause. KGNS reported that weather is being considered as a factor.

Where can the family get the crash report? Through TxDOT's CRIS site, once it is available. See the crash report section above.

How Dunk Law Firm Can Help

A case review can help identify which records to request, what evidence may need preserving, which insurance policies to look at and who may have authority to act. It cannot establish fault or promise compensation before the facts are known.

Dunk Law Firm handles wrongful death, catastrophic injury and commercial vehicle cases. Our Houston office serves families in Laredo and Webb County and throughout Texas, and the firm also serves clients statewide in Tennessee, Missouri and Wisconsin, with offices in Memphis, St. Louis and Milwaukee. Dunk Law Firm does not contact families after a crash; if you have questions, reach out when you are ready.

For a free case review, call [888-551-3865](tel:+18885513865) or visit Dunk Law Firm. Help is available 24/7, with no upfront attorney fees. Ask about the written fee agreement and case expenses.

You do not need to have every document ready to ask an initial question.

Sources

Sources checked November 10, 2026, 7:24 a.m. CST.

1. Laredo Morning Times: Woman killed in Sunday I-35 crash identified by Laredo police — published Nov. 9, 2026 2. KGNS: Laredo police identify woman killed in I-35 crash — published Nov. 9, 2026

The images with this article are AI-generated editorial illustrations, not photographs of the actual scene.

Attorney advertising. General information, not legal advice. No outcome is guaranteed, and contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. This report does not imply representation of anyone involved. Attorney review or approval is not claimed. Responsible attorney: Orville Dunk.