A 26-year-old Killeen father was on his way to work Friday afternoon when a crash in Temple claimed his life, leaving his family to cope with the sudden loss of a man they describe as hardworking, loving and full of life.
Temple police identified the victim as Joshua Tillman. The crash happened around 1:29 p.m. Sept. 25 at the intersection of Northwest H.K. Dodgen Loop and Industrial Boulevard.
Investigators said an eastbound box truck and a northbound vehicle collided at the intersection. Tillman was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Larry Wilkey. A person who was inside the box truck was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Family says he was only minutes from work
For Tillman’s family, the circumstances have made his death even harder to process.
His relatives said Tillman was driving to work and was only about three minutes from his job when the crash occurred. They described him as a dedicated father who worked hard to provide for his two children.
His mother, Cathleen Fight, said the reality of losing her son still does not feel real.
“He’s such an outgoing person,” Fight said, remembering his contagious smile and laughter. She said the absence of her son is difficult for the entire family to accept.
Tillman’s father, Jerald Fight, also remembered him as someone who cared about the people around him.
“Josh was just a bright person,” he said. “He smiled all the time. Cared about everybody.”
His sister, Kathryn Tillman-Lemons, said her brother loved people deeply and was generous with that affection.
“He loved. He loved hard. He loved everybody,” she said.
She described the phone call telling her that her brother had died as the worst call she had ever received.
Crash puts focus on H.K. Dodgen Loop
Tillman’s death is also drawing attention to safety along H.K. Dodgen Loop, which is also known as Loop 363.
The intersection where Tillman was killed is different from the General Bruce Drive and South H.K. Dodgen Loop location that has previously been identified in crash-data analysis as a high-crash intersection. That analysis of 2025 Texas Department of Transportation data reported 77 crashes and 39 injuries at the General Bruce Drive intersection.
Tillman’s fatal crash occurred farther along the loop, at Industrial Boulevard.
Additional crash data for H.K. Dodgen Loop, including information specifically involving Industrial Boulevard, had been requested from TxDOT. The agency said its Traffic Safety Division was processing the request and that the information was not yet available.
TxDOT considers several factors when reviewing locations for potential safety improvements, including crash frequency, crash severity, contributing circumstances and environmental conditions. The agency may also evaluate whether a traffic signal meets the requirements for installation.
At this point, authorities have not released a final determination about what caused the collision that killed Tillman.
Family turns to community for funeral costs
While investigators continue working to determine what happened, Tillman’s family is dealing with the immediate financial burden of an unexpected funeral.
His relatives said providing for his two children was one of the most important things in his life and described him as someone who worked hard for his family.
Jerald Fight has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and burial expenses.
“I have to figure out how to bury my son,” he said.
For Tillman’s mother, the loss represents 26 years of memories with her son and a future that suddenly changed.
“I am going to miss him,” Cathleen Fight said. “For 26 years he’s been a part of my life.”
Temple police said the crash investigation remains ongoing. As investigators continue reviewing the circumstances of the collision, Tillman’s family is left remembering him not simply as the victim of a traffic crash, but as a father, son and brother whose life ended while he was on his way to work.
