Madison County, TX — March 4, 2025, Maureen Fulton was killed in a truck accident at about 9:15 a.m. on northbound Interstate 45.
Authorities said a 2021 Peterbilt semi-truck was driving too fast as it approached slowed traffic near the county line south of Madisonville. The truck swerved to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of it, but it hit several other vehicles before overturning.
One of those vehicles was a 2019 Jeep Wrangler, whose driver, 77-year-old Maureen Fulton, died in the crash, according to authorities.
No other injuries have been reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Madison County crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When an 18-wheeler comes up on slowed traffic too fast and loses control, the most important question isn’t what happened. That part seems to be clear. The real question is why it happened and whether it could have been prevented.
One of the first things investigators should look at is the truck driver’s speed and following distance. Trucks require far more stopping distance than smaller vehicles, which is why professional drivers are trained to anticipate slowdowns ahead. If this driver was moving too fast to react safely, was that the result of poor training, inattentiveness or company pressure to stay on schedule? I’ve litigated cases where drivers were put in situations where they had to choose between running late or taking risks. That’s something worth investigating here.
Beyond that, was the truck equipped with safety technology that should have prevented this crash? Many modern commercial trucks have automatic emergency braking and collision warning systems. If this truck had those features, were they functional? If it didn’t have them, why not? These systems exist to prevent exactly this kind of crash, but some trucking companies avoid using them to cut costs.
Finally, road conditions and traffic flow should also be examined. Was there proper signage warning of slowdowns ahead? Did something unexpected cause traffic to slow more abruptly than usual? Even if those factors played a role, it’s ultimately the truck driver’s responsibility to adjust their speed and maintain control.
A crash like this isn’t just about one moment of poor judgment: it’s about whether the driver was properly trained, the truck was properly equipped and whether this wreck was the result of deeper issues within the trucking company. Investigators should be looking beyond the crash scene to get those answers.
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