A somber moment unfolded in Rocksprings, Texas, on March 8 when 17‑year‑old David "Samson" Reyes, a promising athlete at Richland Springs Independent School District, was killed after a heavy wooden telephone pole struck him in the head during a school‑organized work project.
James McIntyre Jr., the district’s head football coach and athletic director, is now under investigation by the Texas Education Agency after allegations surfaced that he compelled students to continue moving the 700‑pound pole despite vocal objections, a pressure that ultimately led to the fatal accident.
A Fatal Misstep
According to witness accounts, the pole rebounded and struck Reyes, and although emergency responders were called, he succumbed to his injuries 40 minutes after the 911 call was placed. The incident prompted immediate administrative action, with McIntyre and assistant coach Adrian Rosales placed on leave for the remainder of the 2025‑26 school year.
Further disciplinary measures were taken when Alfredo Enriquez and Paulette Williams were terminated from their positions at Richland Springs ISD, underscoring the district’s zero‑tolerance stance toward misconduct that endangers student safety.
The Texas Education Agency’s Educator Investigations Division has opened a formal review, a process that can result in sanctions ranging from reprimands to revocation of teaching credentials. While no criminal charges have been filed to date, the TEA’s findings will be forwarded to the State Board for Educator Certification and the Texas Commissioner of Education for final determination.
Beyond the tragedy, the school’s football program, a six‑man squad that finished 12‑2 last season and fell in the state championship, is preparing to open its 2026 campaign on August 28 against the Lometa Coyotes, a schedule that now carries an added weight of reflection and resilience.