Lubbock, TX — November 13, 2025, Ashley Tessneer and a teen were injured in a truck accident at approximately 9:30 p.m. along State Highway 114.
According to authorities, 39-year-old Ashley Tessneer and a 14-year-old boy were traveling in an eastbound Volkswagen Atlas on S.H. 114 at the railroad crossing west of Langford Avenue when the accident took place.
Officials indicate that, for reasons yet to be confirmed, a collision occurred between the front-end of the Volkswagen and the rear-end of an eastbound Kenworth 18-wheeler’s trailer. Tessneer and the teenage boy each reportedly suffered serious injuries as a result of the collision.
Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a passenger vehicle strikes the rear-end of an 18-wheeler, it’s common for people to assume the smaller vehicle must have been following too closely or not paying attention. But real-world experience shows that the full story often lies in the details—and those details are usually written in the evidence, not the assumptions.
One major factor in rear-end collisions involving tractor-trailers is visibility. A truck stopped or moving slowly near a railroad crossing needs to be clearly visible from a safe distance. That raises a critical question here: Was the 18-wheeler stopped, and if so, was it adequately lit or marked to alert approaching traffic?
Reflective tape, functional brake lights, and proper use of hazard signals can all make the difference between a visible obstacle and an invisible hazard—especially at night. Investigators should also consider whether the trailer may have extended into the road in such a way that it became a low-visibility obstruction. I’ve seen cases where trailers positioned across the roadway at night essentially became invisible to oncoming drivers, particularly if the trailer lacked adequate lighting or was coated with road grime that dulled its reflectivity.
To understand how this collision occurred, investigators should be looking at:
- Whether the truck was moving or stationary, and if stationary, for how long and why;
- Dash cam or surveillance footage, to determine lighting and visibility at the time of the crash;
- Trailer lighting and reflectivity condition, especially considering the nighttime setting;
- Vehicle speeds and braking data, if ECM or EDR data is available from either vehicle;
- Road design and sight lines, which can affect a driver’s ability to detect a stopped vehicle ahead.
All of this matters because there’s a big difference between a crash that results from a lapse in following distance and one that results from an unmarked obstacle in the roadway. In either case, the goal of the investigation should be to determine whether either party could—and should—have done something differently to prevent the collision.
Key Takeaways:
- Rear-end collisions with 18-wheelers at night often involve visibility issues, not just driver error.
- Investigators should confirm whether the truck was stopped and whether it was properly lit and marked.
- Trailer positioning, reflectivity, and brake light functionality can all influence crash risk.
- Evidence like dash cam footage and ECM data will be critical in establishing what happened.
- Responsibility hinges not on assumptions, but on whether each party took reasonable steps to avoid the crash.
