Tragic Accident Claims Life of West Columbia Man, Shuts Down Eastbound Lanes of Interstate 10

CIBOLO — An unfortunate collision on New Year’s Day resulted in the death of a West Columbia man and forced the closure of the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 for several hours. The incident occurred at approximately 7:45 p.m. on January 1st, near exit 600 for FM 465, according to Cibolo Police Department Public Information Officer, Matt Schima.

Upon arrival at the accident scene, officers discovered a collision between a vehicle and an 18-wheeler, tragically resulting in the demise of the vehicle’s driver. The driver was identified as Paul Anthony Briggs, a 59-year-old resident of West Columbia. Preliminary reports suggest that Briggs was operating a 2023 Chevrolet Camaro, heading east on I-10, when he lost control of his vehicle.

As Schima explained, “The Camaro veered off-course after Briggs lost control, striking the center median before returning to the highway. It was at this point that the 18-wheeler collided with the Camaro in a ‘T-bone’ fashion.”

Briggs was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and thankfully, no other injuries were reported. However, due to the severity of the incident, the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 remained closed until approximately 2:40 a.m. while Cibolo Police officers and Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers conducted a thorough investigation.

The investigation into the accident is still ongoing, as authorities work diligently to determine the exact cause of the collision. Additional details surrounding the incident have yet to be disclosed.