Kayla McCool Injured in Truck Accident in Onalaska, TX

Onalaska, TX — November 21, 2025, Kayla McCool was injured in a truck accident at about 6:50 p.m. on U.S. Highway 190.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a westbound 2014 GMC Sierra collided with an eastbound 2024 Freightliner semi-truck and a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado on the bridge over the Trinity River.

GMC driver Kayla McCool, 34, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report.

The other two drivers were not injured, the report states.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Polk County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a pickup and an 18-wheeler collided head-on, one of the first questions they’re likely to ask is: How does something like that even happen on a straight highway bridge? That’s exactly the kind of question an independent investigation needs to answer; because without it, we’re left with more speculation than facts.

At this point, the available report doesn’t say what caused the Freightliner to be in the path of the GMC Sierra, or vice versa. Was someone attempting a pass? Did one of the vehicles lose control and veer across the center line? Did mechanical failure or distraction play a role? Right now, those questions are all unanswered; and that’s a problem if we’re trying to figure out who, if anyone, acted negligently.

Whenever a commercial truck is involved in a crash like this, the first step is to secure the available evidence. That includes engine control module (“black box”) data from the Freightliner, which can show its speed, braking, steering input and other key details in the moments before the crash. If the truck had in-cab cameras or dash cams, as many now do, those can provide vital insight into whether the driver was distracted, fatigued or otherwise impaired. Cell phone records may also shed light on whether the driver was using their phone when the crash occurred.

But getting the truck’s data is only one part of the equation. We also need to understand the trucking company’s role. Did they screen and train their driver properly? Were they monitoring hours of service to prevent fatigue? It’s not uncommon for deeper investigation to reveal that the company took shortcuts, like hiring a driver with red flags in their record or failing to monitor their conduct on the road.

I handled a case not long ago where a truck driver had been fired multiple times before getting hired by the company that ultimately put him behind the wheel in a crash. It turned out their “driver evaluation” consisted of a brief test drive that did nothing to screen for the kind of judgment needed to safely operate 80,000-pound vehicles at highway speeds. By the time the evidence was in, it was clear that poor company oversight was just as much a factor as anything the driver did behind the wheel.

With this crash, the most important thing to keep in mind is that serious questions remain unanswered. That’s not just a concern for one driver or one company. It’s a concern for everyone who uses that bridge and expects the vehicles around them to be properly operated and maintained. Getting to the truth means looking past the surface and letting the evidence tell the story.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s unclear from initial reports how the pickup and 18-wheeler came to collide head-on. Key facts like lane position and vehicle movement remain unknown.
• Black box data, dash cams and cell phone records from the truck could shed light on what the Freightliner was doing at the time of the crash.
• The trucking company’s hiring, training and monitoring practices should also be investigated to determine if they contributed to the incident.
• Independent investigations are necessary to uncover the full chain of responsibility, which may extend beyond the drivers involved.
• Without that evidence, it’s impossible to know who should be held accountable or what lessons need to be learned.