A Brownsville man working as a border wall contractor was arrested Tuesday after a truck and trailer carrying an excavator struck the low-clearance railroad bridge over U.S. Highway 90 in Alpine, according to the Alpine Police Department.
Eder Nieto, 39, was charged with driving an over-height vehicle into a bridge. Alpine police said the offense, which ordinarily would result in a citation, was elevated to a Class B misdemeanor because Nieto lacked the proper license and permits.
Nieto was booked into the Brewster County Jail and later released on bond. A Class B misdemeanor in Texas is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
The collision involved Alpine’s notoriously low railroad bridge, which has been struck repeatedly by oversized vehicles over the years. The bridge now has a clearance of 14 feet, 3 inches after previously standing at just 13 feet, 7 inches.
The Big Bend Sentinel, which reported additional details on the incident Thursday, said public records identify Nieto as a long-haul truck driver and show at least two previous citations involving an improper commercial license or permits, along with failure to appear in court. The newspaper reported that it remained unclear which border wall contractor or subcontractor Nieto was working for at the time of the crash.
The impact caused significant disruption along Highway 90 and the Union Pacific railroad line. Traffic entering Alpine was diverted, with some motorists traveling through Fort Davis. The commonly used detour along Mosely Loop remained open.
The crash is the latest in a long history of vehicles striking the bridge. Alpine residents cited by the Sentinel recalled at least three collisions in the past several years, while accounts of trucks hitting the structure stretch back decades.
The repeated crashes have prompted efforts to reduce the problem. The Texas Department of Transportation held public workshops and studied possible solutions in 2024. The bridge clearance was increased, new warning signs were installed and a yellow metal clearance bar was placed ahead of the structure to warn and stop over-height vehicles before they reach the railroad bridge.
Alpine Mayor Catherine Eaves told the Sentinel that bridge strikes have consequences extending well beyond the drivers involved. Road closures can disrupt tourism, force travelers onto lengthy detours and create repair costs for Union Pacific and the state.
Eaves said one potential solution previously discussed involved laser-based height detectors on approaches to the bridge that could activate flashing warnings when an over-height vehicle approaches.
The latest collision comes as heavy equipment and construction traffic have increased across the Big Bend region amid federal border barrier projects. Authorities had not publicly identified Nieto’s employer or the specific border wall project associated with the equipment as of the Sentinel’s report.
The Big Bend Sentinel contributed significant additional reporting to this story, including details about Nieto’s background, the history of bridge strikes, traffic impacts and previous efforts to address the low-clearance bridge.
