Former EPISD Transportation Director Hector Rodriguez killed in Auto Accident on Highway 277 in Eagle Ford Shale Region

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015

Former Eagle Pass Independent School District Transportation Director Hector M. Rodriguez, age 69,  was killed in a rollover automobile accident on U.S. Highway 277 in Maverick County, Texas between Eagle Pass and Carrizo Springs, Texas on Saturday, September 26, 2015, at approximately 9:30 P.M., announced Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber.

Rodriguez was a well-known and liked former school teacher and school administrator with the Eagle Pass Independent School District.  Rodriguez was the sole passenger in a late model Chevrolet Tahoe which was involved in a rollover accident.

Maverick County Justice of the Peace of Precinct 1 Kina Mancha pronounced Hector M. Rodriguez dead at the scene of the accident at 9:30 P.M. on Saturday, September 26th.  Judge Mancha ordered that an autopsy be performed on Rodgriguez as required by state law.

The Maverick County Sheriff’s Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety are investigating the accident of Hector Rodriguez.

Eagle Passans are mourning the news of the tragic death of Hector M. Rodriguez.  

Funeral  arrangements for Rodriguez are with Yeager-Barrera Mortuary of Eagle Pass, Texas with public viewing on Wednesday, September 30th from 2 P.M. through 9 P.M., including a Rosary at 7:30 P.M., and continued on Thursday, October 1st from 9 A.M. through 10:45 A.M. followed with Mass at 11 A.M. at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church and interment at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Cemetery.

Rodriguez was returning home to Eagle Pass from work in the Eagle Ford Shale Region.  He was employed by Fluid Transport Service as a commercial truck driver in Carrizo Springs, Texas.

Rodriguez rose from humble beginnings as a migrant farmworker in Mabton, Washington to a shoe salesman at Riskind’s, a hotel clerk at the Holly Inn, a school bus driver with the Eagle Pass Independent School District, a school teacher with the Eagle Pass Independent School District, as General Manager of the City of Eagle Pass International Bridge System, and as Transportation Director with the Eagle Pass Independent School District.

U.S. Highway 277 between Eagle Pass and Carrizo Springs, Texas has seen a significant spike in auto accidents and fatality accidents since the onset of the Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas boom in 2008.

Maverick Countians and Dimmit Countians refer to this section of U.S. Highway 277 between Eagle Pass and Carrizo Springs, Texas as the “Widow Maker” due to the large number of fatality accidents in recent years emanating from the Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas development.

For instance, in 2008 Dimmit County had only one automobile accident with one fatality on U.S. Highway 277 compared to 2014 in which it had 11 automobile accidents with 13 fatalities.  In 2014, Maverick County had a total of eight automobile accidents with six fatalities on U.S. Highway 277 and five automobile accidents with five fatalities in 2013.

The Eagle Pass Business Journal joins the Maverick County community in expressing its deepest condolences to the family of the late Hector M. Rodriguez.

Hector Rodriguez funeral services information is as follows; Viewing will be on Wednesday September 30,2015 from 2pm-9pm with a rosary at 7:30pm at the Yeager Barrera Mortuary located at 1613 Del Rio Boulevard. Mass will be held Thursday October 1, 2015 at 11am at the Our Lady Of Refuge Church located at 804 N. Ceylon St.  with the proper burial to follow.