Zavala County, TX — March 25, 2025, Corey Mansell was killed in a truck accident at about 6:25 a.m. on F.M. 117 south of Batesville.
Authorities said a 2024 Ford F-550 towing a flatbed trailer failed to yield while attempting a left turn onto F.M. 1025. It crashed into a 2021 Ford F-350 that had been heading south.
F-350 driver Corey Mansell, 33, of Uvalde died in the crash, according to authorities. The other driver was not injured.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Zavala County crash.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When one vehicle attempts a left turn across traffic and collides with an oncoming vehicle, the legal responsibility almost always starts with the turning driver. In this crash south of Batesville, the driver of a Ford F-550 reportedly failed to yield while making a left turn onto F.M. 1025, cutting into the path of a southbound Ford F-350. The resulting collision killed the driver of the F-350. That’s a textbook example of what the law is meant to prevent.
Left-turn crashes like this are usually avoidable with even a basic level of caution. Under Texas law, drivers making a left turn must yield to oncoming traffic until it is safe to proceed. That responsibility is especially important when the turning vehicle is towing a trailer. Flatbed trailers increase the length and time it takes to complete a turn, which means the driver needs a longer and clearer gap in traffic to move safely.
In my experience, one of the most common mistakes in these situations is misjudging the speed or distance of oncoming vehicles. That’s dangerous enough with smaller cars, but when heavy-duty trucks like an F-350 are involved, the consequences are often fatal, just as they were in this case. At 6:25 a.m., lighting conditions may have been limited, which could have made it even harder for the turning driver to assess the situation. But low visibility isn’t an excuse for making an unsafe maneuver. It’s a reason to be even more cautious.
Investigators will likely look at physical evidence such as skid marks, vehicle positions and damage patterns to determine whether the F-350 driver had any chance to avoid the crash. If there’s any video from dashcams or nearby surveillance, it could provide a timeline of the turn and show whether the F-550 hesitated, rushed the maneuver or pulled out without warning. The trailer’s load and weight may also factor in if they affected the turning distance or vehicle control.
Ultimately, this kind of crash illustrates why left-turning drivers carry so much legal responsibility. When someone makes a turn across another driver’s path and gets it wrong, the consequences aren’t limited to traffic citations. They’re often deadly. The law puts the burden on the turning vehicle because it’s the one creating the risk. And in cases like this, the evidence will likely show that the other driver never had a chance.
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