Lubbock County, TX — July 10, 2024, one person was killed and Jeremy Barbee was injured in a car accident at approximately 9:15 p.m. along U.S. Highway 84.
According to authorities, 43-year-old Jeremy Barbee was traveling in a westbound Ford Expedition on U.S. 84 at the F.M. 1585 intersection when the accident took place. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a Ford F-250 pickup truck occupied by a 69-year-old man was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the highway. As the Expedition attempted a left turn to head south on F.M. 1585, a collision occurred between the front-end of the pickup truck and the front-left quarter of the Expedition. The impact caused the pickup truck to overturn, rolling and coming to a stop resting on its wheels.
Both Barbee and the man who had been behind the wheel of the pickup truck suffered serious injuries over the course of the accident. They were each transported to area medical facilities by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. However, the man from the pickup was ultimately unable to overcome the severity of his injuries, having later been declared deceased. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Wrong-way crashes are among the most unsettling types of collisions because they point to a failure somewhere in a system that should be nearly foolproof. But figuring out whether the error came from the driver, the vehicle, or somewhere else demands more than a surface-level look.
1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
When a vehicle is traveling the wrong way on a highway, every detail about how it got there matters. A full investigation should account for where the pickup truck entered the highway, whether there were any missed turnoffs, and if there were earlier signs of erratic movement. Collision reconstruction should also map out both vehicles’ movements leading into the crash. If those elements weren’t closely analyzed, important insights could have been lost.
2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
While wrong-way driving is often assumed to be driver-related, there are scenarios where mechanical failure plays a role. A stuck steering component, failed gear selector, or malfunctioning navigation display could all contribute to a vehicle ending up in the wrong lane. The pickup’s systems—particularly its steering, brakes, and electronic controls—should have been examined carefully. Without that inspection, it’s unclear whether the truck’s path was entirely under the driver’s control.
3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Crash data from both vehicles could help clarify what happened just before impact—how fast each was going, whether brakes were applied, and whether steering input was made. This is especially important in a wrong-way scenario, where questions often center around driver awareness and reaction time. Dash cams or traffic cameras might also show the moment of impact or the seconds leading up to it. That kind of data is essential for understanding how and when the drivers became aware of the threat.
In a crash like this, what matters most isn’t just that the wrong-way movement happened—it’s understanding why. And without a detailed review of the vehicles and the data, that answer may never fully come to light.
Takeaways:
- A full reconstruction should trace how the pickup ended up in the wrong lanes.
- Mechanical failures can’t be ruled out without inspecting key vehicle systems.
- Electronic crash data and video can reveal driver actions and reactions before the impact.
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