Alan Banda, 1 Other Injured in Truck Accident in Waxahachie, TX

Waxahachie, TX — January 31, 2026, Alan Banda and another person were injured in a truck accident at about 1:15 a.m. on Interstate 35E.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a southbound 2016 Honda Accord collided with a 2025 Peterbilt semi-truck that was stopped south of U.S. Highway 287 Business.

Honda driver Alan Banda, 25, and a 22-year-old woman were seriously injured in the crash, according to the report.

The truck driver was not injured, the report states.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Ellis County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When most people read about a crash like this, the first questions that come to mind are simple: How does a car run into a stopped 18-wheeler on a highway? Why was the truck stopped? And are we getting the full story?

But the key issue here is not just that the truck was stopped. It’s why it was stopped, where it was positioned and whether it was visible and lawfully parked.

Highways are not parking lots. Federal and Texas regulations limit when and how a commercial truck can stop on a main travel lane. It’s not clear whether the Peterbilt was stopped in an active lane of traffic, partially on the shoulder or fully off the roadway. That detail matters. If the truck was blocking a live lane without a true emergency, that raises serious questions about driver judgment and company oversight.

It’s also not clear whether the truck had its hazard lights activated or whether reflective warning triangles were placed behind it, as required in certain situations. At 1:15 a.m., visibility is already reduced. A dark, stationary trailer can become a fixed object that drivers don’t perceive until it’s too late. Whether proper warnings were deployed is a factual question that investigators will need to answer.

On the other hand, investigators will also examine the Honda driver’s actions. Was the car traveling at highway speed? Was there braking before impact? Was the driver distracted? The Honda’s engine control module can show speed, throttle input and braking in the seconds before the crash. Cell phone records can confirm whether distraction was a factor. Those answers come from data, not assumptions.

The truck’s engine control module (ECM) will also be important. Even if the truck was stopped, the ECM can confirm how long it had been stationary, whether it had recently decelerated and whether any fault codes were active. If the truck stopped suddenly due to a mechanical issue, maintenance records will become relevant. If it was stopped for a non-emergency reason, that raises a different set of concerns.

Another unanswered question is whether the truck driver had exceeded hours-of-service limits. Fatigue can influence decisions like pulling over in unsafe places. Driver logs, electronic logging device (ELD) data, and dispatch communications would help clarify that.

In my experience, crashes involving stopped trucks often turn on details that don’t appear in the initial report. I’ve handled cases where a truck was technically “stopped,” but the real issue was that it shouldn’t have been stopped where it was. I’ve also seen situations where passenger vehicle drivers didn’t recognize a hazard in time because of lighting, visibility or roadway design. The only way to sort that out is through a full, independent investigation.

Right now, the public report leaves major gaps. Until we know precisely where the truck was positioned, why it was stopped, what warnings were in place and what the vehicle data shows from both vehicles, it’s too early to assign responsibility.

What’s clear is that serious injuries occurred. What’s not yet clear is which decisions led to that moment.

Key Takeaways

• A stopped 18-wheeler on a highway raises immediate questions about why it was there and whether it was lawfully and safely positioned.
• It’s not clear whether proper hazard lights or warning devices were deployed, especially given the early morning darkness.
• Black box data from both the truck and the Honda will be critical in determining speed, braking and timing.
• Driver logs, maintenance records, and dispatch communications may reveal whether fatigue or mechanical issues played a role.
• Early reports leave significant unanswered questions that only a thorough investigation can resolve.