More charges pursued for driver accused of hitting Tye firefighter during I-20 trailer fire

TYE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – In the early morning of Wednesday, March 19, Tye and Merkel firefighters responded to a large tractor-trailer fire in the westbound lanes of I-20 just west of Tye, near the 277 exit.

Before the scene was contained, a driver, now identified as 20-year-old Nathan James Newlin, bypassed the barricades and struck a Tye firefighter while traveling around 15-20 miles per hour. Tye VFD Fire Chief Chris Thomas said that this is the first time in his and the previous Tye Chief’s career that they’ve had a first responder get hit by a vehicle while working a scene.

“If a firefighter gets injured or something…Whoever’s with them will call out a mayday. Everything pretty much stops, and we deal with that situation because now that is the important part, their safety,” Thomas said.

In the interest of privacy, Tye VFD has chosen not to identify the injured firefighter. Thomas says he has spoken to them, and they are recovering at home after being released from the hospital with minor injuries.

Tye VFD says a Merkel responder sent out the ‘mayday’ call. Thomas was in charge of the scene and says he did not see the incident due to the thick black smoke from the fire. Upon reviewing the dash cam footage, he was able to provide this description.

“When they got hit, they actually rolled up onto the hood of the car and then off, back down off the hood,” Explained Thomas.

While they are happy the injuries sustained were not worse in this case, Tye VFD and other first responders like Texas DPS Staff Sergeant Mark Couch are reminding the public of the importance of awareness and caution when navigating an active roadway scene.

“I’ve had times when I’ve been directing traffic and had people come through a scene too fast or nearly causing collisions or running through a barricade system because they’re just not paying attention,” Couch said.

Motorists are required by law to vacate the lane nearest an active scene or, if not possible, to slow down to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit when passing the scene. Couch says that the law applies not only to first responders but also to anyone working an active roadway.

“Anytime you see emergency vehicles working on the side of the road, whether it’s tow trucks, police officers, firefighters, ambulances, TxDOT vehicles, anyone out there that’s doing that kind of work. You are obligated by law to either move over…or slow down,” said Couch.

Couch went on to address the issue of ‘rubbernecking,’ or people driving closer to an active scene out of curiosity. This can often lead to distracted drivers causing more of a hazard. Couch implored the public to think of the danger each official is putting themselves in every time they work an active roadway.

“Just understand that there are people out there working. These are not just vehicles that are parked. And even if you miss the person and hit a vehicle. That vehicle can be pushed into first responders that are using the vehicles as protection for themselves,” Couch said.

“Treat them as if it was one of your own family members. If that was them out there working, you’d want someone, you know, somebody to slow down,” added Thomas.

Newlin was arrested and booked into the Taylor County Jail on Wednesday afternoon on misdemeanor charges for:

• Disregard Police Officer
• Disregard Traffic Control Device
• Minor Possession of E-Cigarette
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicles

Newlin has been released from custody after successfully posting bail in the amount of $1,200.

The Tye Police Department posted on their social media later Wednesday evening, “After careful review of the crash this morning involving the Tye firefighter, investigators have analyzed dash cam footage and concluded that there is sufficient cause and evidence to pursue an additional charge of reckless driving against Mr. Newlin. The Tye Police Department will be seeking a warrant for his arrest in the coming days. Thank you for your continued support as we work to ensure safety in our community…”