Leon County, TX — July 16, 2025, Matthew Sovick and Christopher Gorman were killed in a truck accident at about 6 a.m. on F.M. 39/West Mexia Highway.
A preliminary accident report indicates that 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe hit the left side of a northbound 1999 Peterbilt semi-truck’s trailer near Ephesus Road/County Road 3441.
Hyundai driver Matthew Sovick, 44, and passenger Christopher Gorman, 49, died in the crash west of Jewett, according to the report.
The truck driver was not hurt, the report states.
The report does not list any charges or citations after the crash.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Leon County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a crash like this makes the news, a lot of people understandably want to know: How did a smaller vehicle end up colliding with the side of an 18-wheeler’s trailer? Was the truck already in the roadway when the SUV arrived? Did it pull out in front of them? Or was something else going on? Those are basic but crucial questions, and based on the preliminary report, they haven’t been answered yet.
What we do know is that the SUV hit the left side of the trailer, a detail that raises the possibility that the truck may have been crossing or entering the northbound lane at the time. But that’s not the same thing as confirmation. Was the truck turning? Was it backing up? Was it parked partially in the road? We don’t know, and that uncertainty makes a thorough investigation all the more important.
In situations like this, key evidence often comes from technology, not eyewitnesses. That includes the truck’s engine control module (ECM), dash cam footage (if any exists) and possibly cell phone records. Was the driver moving at the time? If so, how fast? Were the trailer lights functioning? Did the driver stop at a nearby intersection, and if so, for how long? These are all things an ECM or in-cab camera might help clarify.
We can’t get answers just by reading the police report; the key is evidence, and that only comes from a full, independent investigation.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s not clear whether the truck was moving or stationary when the SUV hit its trailer, and that affects how fault may be assessed.
- Critical evidence — such as ECM data, dash cam footage and cell phone records — can clarify the truck’s movements and condition.
- A proper investigation requires more than a police report; it needs a detailed look at both the vehicle and the company behind it.
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