San Antonio bicyclist killed by train in New Braunfels after riding on tracks at night

Incident occurred near North Solms Road; officials say the man was on the railroad tracks

A 49-year-old San Antonio resident was killed late Monday night, Feb. 23, 2026, after being struck by a train in New Braunfels while riding a bicycle, city officials said. Emergency responders found the man with severe injuries at the scene, and he was pronounced dead there.

The crash occurred at about 10:45 p.m. in the 200 block of North Solms Road, an area near Interstate 35. City officials identified the victim as Ryan Furnas and stated that he had been riding his bicycle on the railroad tracks when the train struck him.

Officials did not release additional details about the train involved, the operator, or any potential contributing factors such as visibility conditions, lighting, or warnings in the area. No public information was provided on whether the location is a designated crossing or an area where access to the tracks is restricted.

What is known so far, and what remains under investigation

City officials characterized the episode as a train-versus-bicyclist collision occurring at night, with the bicyclist on the tracks. In such cases, investigators typically work to establish a precise timeline, the train’s speed and braking actions, the victim’s path of travel, and whether any signals, fencing, signage, or other barriers were present and functioning as intended.

Authorities have not publicly stated whether the death is being investigated as an accident, whether any violations are suspected, or whether any enforcement actions are anticipated. The identities of responding agencies and any rail police involvement were not detailed in the information released Thursday.

Regional context: rail corridors intersect with growing communities

The New Braunfels area sits along a major transportation corridor between San Antonio and Austin, with active rail lines running near residential and commercial development. As communities expand around longstanding rail infrastructure, public safety messaging generally emphasizes that rail rights-of-way are not designed for pedestrian or bicycle travel and that trains require significant distance to stop.

• Location: 200 block of North Solms Road, New Braunfels

• Time reported: about 10:45 p.m., Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

• Victim: Ryan Furnas, 49, of San Antonio

• Circumstances described by officials: bicyclist was riding on the railroad tracks

Officials said the victim was riding his bicycle on the railroad tracks when he was struck.

Further details, including the investigative findings and any determinations about contributing factors, are expected to depend on the results of the ongoing review by local authorities and rail representatives.