Columbus, TX — April 5, 2024, Erika Manzera was injured as the result of an 18-wheeler accident at around 8:00 p.m. along Highway 71.
Authorities said in preliminary statements that the collision happened at the intersection of Highway 71 and Crossroads Boulevard.
It appears that 22-year-old Erika Manzera was in a Honda Civic that was going southbound on the highway. At Crossroads, authorities allege that a northbound tractor-trailer failed to yield at the crossover after turning left. As a result, Manzera’s vehicle crashed into the truck. Manzera reportedly sustained serious injuries due to the crash.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Authorities apparently recommended a citation for failure to yield against the truck driver. Even if they follow through with those charges, it may not answer an important question: Why did this crash happen? I’ve handled hundreds of commercial vehicle wrecks, and a driver failing to yield can often be a sign there was more going on behind the scenes that also needs to be brought to light.
Not a lot of people realize just how much influence a driver’s employer has on their behavior. Some companies only value speed and production, meaning safety takes a back seat. That can lead to employers overlooking reckless driving histories, neglecting to maintain their fleet, demanding drivers cut corners or engage in reckless behavior they may not otherwise, or failing to train drivers as they rush to get trucks on the road.
For example, I had a crash not long ago where a reckless commercial vehicle driver caused a serious accident. Authorities were content to put all of the blame on the driver—who absolutely deserved to face consequences. Our investigations, though, revealed a whole culture of reckless behavior at the driver’s place of work. The company would essentially reward drivers who cut corners to save time, and they’d withhold good work from the drivers who took the time to prioritize safety. It inevitably led to drivers taking risks on the road rather than risking their livelihood. It was just a matter of time before people got hurt.
In short, it’s important after a serious truck wreck not to simply look for a bad guy to pin the blame on. Investigations need to be able to tell the whole story. If it was just one reckless driver making an isolated mistake, that can be addressed. If it was something that resulted from multiple mistakes from multiple people all culminating in a predictable accident, that, too, can be adequately addressed. And ultimately, it could even turn out this was something highly unusual and unavoidable. At the end of the day, the goal should be for victims and families to know they’re not being left in the dark and that all wrongdoers are facing appropriate consequences. Is that happening here?
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