Overview
- The town's fire chief, 38-year-old Charlie Woodard, was struck by a pickup truck while directing traffic following the Mabank Rodeo on Saturday night and later died at a hospital.
- Family members and local officials publicly identified Woodard and described him as a long-serving community leader who served as Mabank's fire chief.
- The Kaufman County Sheriff's Office posted condolences on Facebook but gave no factual details, and the Mabank Police Department has not released an official account as the investigation continues.
- Some news outlets initially conflated this death with a separate Montgomery County deputy fatality on I-45, but publishers later corrected their reports and confirmed the incidents are unrelated.
- The case underscores the risks faced by emergency responders who direct traffic after public events, and investigators will determine cause, any charges, and whether safety changes are needed for future events.