The Collinsville community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Lydia Barnes, age 28, a beloved City of Collinsville employee whose life was tragically cut short in a fatal crash early Monday morning.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:00 a.m. in the 8000 block of FM 902, just outside the Collinsville city limits. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a pickup truck driven by Grayson Cates, 19, crossed the center line and struck the compact car Lydia was driving in a head-on collision.
Emergency responders arrived to find both drivers trapped inside their vehicles. Crews worked urgently to extricate them. Cates suffered incapacitating injuries and was airlifted to Medical City Denton for treatment. Lydia, who was on her way to work, was pinned inside her vehicle for more than an hour and was tragically pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Texas Department of Public Safety continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
In response to the devastating loss, the City of Collinsville postponed its scheduled city council meeting and closed City Hall for the day. In a statement, city officials expressed their grief, saying in part, “It is with profound sadness that we are processing the unexpected loss this morning of a beloved city employee.” The city council meeting will be rescheduled at a later date.
As family, friends, coworkers, and the entire community grieve, Lydia Barnes is remembered for her dedication, kindness, and the life she lived, not the tragedy that took her away.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones and all those impacted by this heartbreaking loss.
