McKINNEY, Texas — A North Texas UPS driver crashed after passing out behind the wheel, allegedly from heat exhaustion, on Friday.

What You Need To Know

  • A North Texas UPS driver passed out behind the wheel and crashed, allegedly from heat exhaustion

  • The driver was feeling ill and was asked to drive from Longview to McKinney

  • UPS said it trains its workers on Recharge, the company’s health and safety program on rest, hydration, taking breaks and knowing the signs of heat-related illness

  • Teamsters Local 767, the labor union for UPS, said the company "once again did not follow their own Recharge guidelines and asked the driver to drive himself in"

According to Teamsters Local 767, the labor union for UPS, the driver was working when he started to feel symptoms of heat-related illness. He called for assistance, but UPS directed him to drive himself in from Longview to McKinney. On the way there, the driver passed out and crashed the UPS delivery truck he was driving.

The driver was hospitalized and later released over the weekend.

In a statement to Spectrum News, UPS spokesperson Christina Repassy said the company cares about the safety and well-being of the driver and is working with authorities to investigate the incident.

Repassy said the company invests $409 million annually on safety training and have added more cooling equipment to their facilities and vehicles.

“The health and safety of our team members is important to us, and we are committed to providing a safe working environment for our employees. We have comprehensive training and protocols to support our employees and continuously work to improve these measures,” Repassy said in a statement. “...We provide employees with specialized cooling gear, access to ice and water, and encourage our people to take extra time to cool-down anytime they need.”

Repassy said UPS trains workers on Recharge, the company’s health and safety program on rest, hydration, taking breaks and knowing the signs of heat-related illness.

“The company once again did not follow their own Recharge guidelines and asked the driver to drive himself in. This is UNACCEPTABLE,” Teamsters 676 wrote in a post to Instagram.

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The union said it’s not the first time an incident like this has happened in McKinney and urged employees to prioritize their health and safety.

“The company continues to place packages over people. This is the third incident in the McKinney building alone. Do not trust the company to do the right thing for your health and safety. Reach out to your Stewards, Business Agents, and/or other drivers and let them know what is going on. Never hesitate to call 911. #Peopleoverpackages,” the union’s post said.

Stay safe in extreme heat with these tips from the CDC:

  • Wear light, loose fitting clothing

  • Stay cool in an air conditioned place

  • Limit outdoor activity to the coolest times of the day (early morning and evening)

  • Pace yourself and know when to stop outdoor activity

  • Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day

  • Replenish salts and minerals with sports drinks

This week is expected to be the hottest week of the year in Texas. Stay informed and know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.