Paradise, TX, Firefighter, Family Killed in Off-Duty Crash
Gainesville Daily Register, Texas
(TNS)
COOKE COUNTY — An off-duty North Texas firefighter and his family were among those who died in a wreck Saturday evening.
Texas Highway Patrol was called out to a two-vehicle collision around 8 p.m. near County Road 383 on Farm-to-Market 51.
According to Texas DPS, a preliminary investigation indicated that an SUV was traveling southbound on FM 51 when the driver passed in a No-Passing Zone and collided head-on with a northbound SUV. The northbound SUV caught fire.
The driver of the southbound SUV was pronounced deceased at the scene. Their identity has not yet been released.
The driver and two passengers of the northbound SUV were also pronounced deceased at the scene. Wise County ESD 3 identified them as Paradise firefighter Cooper Bailey, his wife Jennifer, and son Hudson.
Their young daughter, Lilah, was also a passenger and was airlifted to Cook Children’s Hospital by CareFlite, where she is currently receiving care supported by her grandparents.
"Firefighter Bailey was a dedicated member of this department, and his loss is felt deeply by us all," Wise County ESD wrote. "We ask for your prayers and for privacy for the family during this unimaginable time."
The department announced a fundraiser for the family has been established here.
© 2026 the Gainesville Daily Register (Gainesville, Texas). Visit www.gainesvilleregister.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.