Loretta Aalund Killed in Car Accident in Smith County, TX

Smith County, TX — December 28, 2025, Loretta Aalund was killed as the result of a car accident at around 2:14 p.m. along Highway 31.

Authorities said in preliminary statements that the accident happened between Kilgore and Tyler at TX-31 and FM 757/Sunshine Church Road.

According to officials, 81-year-old Loretta Aalund was in a Toyota Camry going westbound along the highway. A Kia Sorento was going northbound when it reportedly failed to yield. The vehicles collided as a result.

Due to the crash, Loretta Aalund had serious injuries. No other injuries were confirmed. At this time, additional information is unavailable.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

People often think car accidents really just come down to who did or didn’t have the right-of-way. If that were true, insurance companies wouldn’t have teams of professionals dedicated to avoiding responsibility after an accident. Instead, the law is more nuanced, and therefore it’s important victims and families have the tools and the evidence they need to tell their side of the story on a level field. The more gaps there are in the story, the more room there is to muddy the waters. Taking steps early on to gather evidence is crucial after even seemingly simple car accidents.