AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA/PUBLIC RELEASE
DATE: February 16, 2026
TIME: 5:18pm
CASE NUMBER: 26-502508
INCIDENT TYPE: Motor vehicle vs fixed object fatality
OFFICER SUBMITTING RELEASE: Sgt. Del Fierro-Traffic Investigation Unit; Sgt. Burr-PIO
DETAILS:
On February 16, 2026, Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of N. Fillmore on a major crash involving a single vehicle that had crashed into a concrete bridge pillar. Officers discovered a 2017 Ford SUV driven by a 17-year-old male. The vehicle had been occupied by a total of 6 people. The vehicle was traveling North on Fillmore at a high rate of speed. The vehicle lost control causing the vehicle to strike the east wall on the underpass, the vehicle then went into a side skid towards the middle of the road causing the passenger side of the vehicle to strike the concrete bridge pillar. Carlos Cuc Cao, male, age 56, had been sitting in the back right passenger seat at the time of the crash. Carlos Cuc Cao died at the scene as result of injuries sustained in the crash. The driver showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol. The driver suffered minor injuries, the front passenger suffered serious injuries, one of the back passengers suffered life threatening injuries. The other 2 back seat passengers suffered serious injuries but were listed as stable. Next of kin for the decedent has been notified. Speed and Alcohol are factors in this crash. Judge Robert Taylor was notified and responded to the scene and ordered an autopsy. The incident is being investigated by the Traffic Investigation Squad of the Amarillo Police Department.
