Mexia, TX — October 17, 2024, 19-year-old Damian Molina Jr. was killed in a collision with a tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 84 near Mexia.
According to authorities, the incident happened shortly before 4:00 p.m. on US-84 near Farm to Market Road 2705. Investigators believe that an eastbound 18-wheeler was preparing to make a left turn when Molina, driving a Ford Mustang, allegedly collided with the back of the semi-trailer.
Molina was fatally injured in the crash. No other injuries were reported.
The investigation is ongoing. No further details are currently available.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Early reports can’t (or just don’t) offer very much insight about how or why this happened, but over the years I’ve learned that folks are pretty quick to blame anyone who rear-ends another vehicle. Sometimes it turns out that person really did make a mistake, but that can’t be taken for granted before all the facts are in. There may be extenuating circumstances or other contributing factors, so it’s important to ask more questions.
Here’s a few that come to mind: How long was the 18-wheeler in the lane before the victim approached? When the driver slowed to turn, did they do so gradually or suddenly? Did anyone else successfully avoid the truck? Were its brake lights and the ones on the trailer working and clearly visible? How fast was the victim’s car traveling? Did authorities make sure its safety features (brakes, airbags, seatbelts) worked properly? If the car hit the rear of the semi-trailer, did the trailer’s underride bar work properly? Was anyone else able to clarify what happened? Who’s telling the victim’s side of the story here?
The main takeaway here is that many accidents aren’t as simple as a few sentences in the news make them sound. Learning the whole story is important, if only to provide the victim’s family with answers and closure. I hope for their sake that investigators will deliver those before all is said and done.
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