Woman, 71, Found Dead on El Paso Street on San Antonio West Side

What Happened on El Paso Street?

A 71-year-old woman was found dead in the roadway on the West Side of San Antonio on the evening of Sunday, July 26, 2026, according to KSAT 12 and News 4 San Antonio, both citing the San Antonio Police Department.

Police say officers were called just before 8:10 p.m. after someone reported a woman lying in the road in the 1500 block of El Paso Street, near the corner of South Pinto Street and not far from Lanier High School. Officers found the woman unresponsive, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said they believe she may have been struck by a vehicle, and that no witnesses had come forward. Police also said the woman possibly lived in that area. No driver or vehicle had been identified in the initial reports, and no cause of death had been announced.

The investigation is ongoing. Preliminary accounts can change, and the Bexar County Medical Examiner is expected to determine the cause of death.

Pedestrian Deaths in Texas

Texas consistently records one of the highest pedestrian death totals in the country. The Texas Department of Transportation publishes statewide pedestrian safety data and campaigns, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that most pedestrian deaths happen in the dark and away from intersections. Older adults are over-represented in those figures.

Texas also has a statute on what a driver must do after a collision involving a person. Chapter 550 of the Texas Transportation Code sets out the duties to stop, remain at the scene, give information, and render aid. Whether that chapter applies here is a question for the investigation, which has not yet said whether a vehicle was involved.

Who Can Be Affected?

• The woman’s surviving spouse, children, and parents
• Relatives left with funeral and burial costs and the loss of a family member
• Neighbors or drivers who saw something on El Paso Street on Sunday evening and have not yet spoken to police
• Households in the area with doorbell or security cameras that may have recorded the roadway

What Kind of Claim Might Apply?

Attorneys who handle Texas pedestrian cases generally describe several paths that can apply once the facts are established. Which of them fits any particular family depends on findings that have not been made yet in this case:

• A wrongful death and survival claim — under Chapter 71 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, the surviving spouse, children, and parents of a person killed by another’s wrongful act can generally seek compensation, and the estate can bring a survival claim of its own.
• Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage when the driver is never found — the Texas Department of Insurance explains that uninsured motorist coverage can apply when the at-fault driver has no insurance, and it is one of the first policies attorneys look at in a hit-and-run. A person struck while walking may be covered by a policy in their own household even though they were not in a car.
• Finding the vehicle — attorneys often canvass for private video, request the police crash and scene reports, and look for vehicle debris and body-shop records. Home and business camera systems commonly overwrite footage within days.
• Roadway and lighting conditions — where a person was walking, how the street was lit, and whether a sidewalk or crossing existed are part of what investigators and attorneys examine after a pedestrian death.

None of this assumes fault on anyone’s part, and police have not said what caused this woman’s death. It reflects the questions Texas attorneys say grieving families often ask after a pedestrian is killed, and the evidence they typically want preserved before conclusions are drawn.

Why Acting Quickly Can Matter

For most Texas wrongful death cases, the statute of limitations is generally two years — a lawyer can explain how those deadlines apply to a specific situation. In a case where no driver has been identified, the practical deadline is often much shorter than the legal one: security video is overwritten, a damaged vehicle can be repaired or sold, and memories of a Sunday evening fade. Many families choose to have a lawyer begin an independent review early, alongside the police investigation rather than after it.

Sources

1. KSAT 12 — SAPD: 71-year-old woman found dead on West Side road
2. News 4 San Antonio — Police investigate after 71-year-old woman found dead in road, possibly struck by vehicle
3. Texas Department of Transportation — Pedestrian safety
4. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Pedestrian safety
5. Texas Transportation Code, Chapter 550 (Accidents and Accident Reports)
6. Texas Department of Insurance — Auto insurance guide (uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage)
7. Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Chapter 71 (Wrongful Death; Survival)
8. Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Chapter 16 (Limitations)