Ford Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over 2023 F-250 That Crushed Texas Owner

Ford Motor Co. settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Roy "Mack" Irwin, a 79-year-old Texas man killed in June 2024 when his parked 2023 Ford F-250 began moving and ran over him. Settlement amounts and conditions were not publicly disclosed, according to Yahoo.

How the F-250 Case Unfolded

Irwin died while visiting a friend's home in New Braunfels, Texas. Surveillance footage captured the pickup moving forward and backward before Irwin chased the vehicle and tried to regain control, the report said.

His daughter, Shelby Lane Reynolds, sued Ford Motor, Bluebonnet Ford owner Kahlig Enterprises and Northwest Automotive Warehouse. The complaint alleged a defective transmission, improper dealership servicing and interference with the truck's automatic emergency-braking system from an aftermarket grille guard.

A February 2025 statement from Wigington Rumley Evans & Blair, the law firm representing Irwin's family, described his final moments. Irwin had left the truck running with a passenger inside after shifting into Park, and the F-250 began moving back and forth. Attorney Jeff Wigington described the surveillance recording in a January 2025 interview with KENS 5.

"You can see the truck moving back and forth three times," Wigington said.

Reynolds alleged Irwin had previously taken the pickup to Bluebonnet Ford because it would not remain in Park. Ford and Bluebonnet Ford denied the allegations, disputed that the truck was defective or that servicing caused the accident, and argued Irwin bore some responsibility. Northwest Automotive Warehouse disputed the claims involving the grille guard.

Ford's Battery and EV Moves

Ford launched Ford Energy as a wholly owned subsidiary in June 2026, investing $2 billion to repurpose its Glendale, Kentucky facility for utility-scale battery energy storage systems targeting AI data centers, with a five-year framework deal with EDF Power Solutions worth up to $4 billion, according to akta.pro company records. The same records show Ford unveiled its Universal Electric Vehicle platform in June 2026 to underpin a $30,000 midsize electric pickup launching in 2027, with LFP battery technology licensed from CATL.

Ford's Recent Product and Market News

Ford is preparing to report Q3 results after shifting toward higher-margin trucks and SUVs, expanding its Model e EV lineup and building recurring software subscription revenue, Simply Wall St reported in October 2026. The 2026 Ford F-150 hybrid PowerBoost V6 offers 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque with a 7.2 kW generator, while the hybrid starts at $52,015, EIN Presswire reported in October 2026. Three Ford F-150 drivers finished in the top five at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Phoenix Raceway on October 16, 2026, with Layne Riggs third, Ty Majeski fourth and Jake Garcia fifth, EIN Presswire reported.

What Comes Next in the Case

Reynolds reached a settlement with Northwest Automotive Warehouse in June 2026, and Ford and Bluebonnet Ford subsequently resolved their disputes with the family. On July 31, Reynolds and the remaining defendants jointly requested dismissal of the claims. As of October 15, publicly reported court records did not show signed orders formally dismissing the claims.