Carson County, TX — September 19, 2024, 64-year-old Michael Conrad was seriously injured in a crash with an 18-wheeler on Interstate 40 in Carson County.
According to authorities, the accident happened around 6:15 p.m. on I-40 near mile marker 91. Preliminary investigation suggests Conrad was driving a GMC Envoy east on the highway at reduced speeds, towing a U-Haul trailer in the right lane. A Freightliner tractor-trailer approached from behind and the driver allegedly failed to control the truck’s speed.
The truck rear-ended the U-Haul, causing it to break loose of the GMC and the Envoy to serve out of control. After the impact the truck driver veered left to avoid the Envoy, but sideswiped it while passing by. The Envoy entered a side-skid through the median, then overturned and came to rest on its roof in the westbound lanes of the interstate.
Michael Conrad was seriously injured in the accident. The Freightliner driver was reportedly unhurt.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
While I certainly don’t know more about this crash than what’s in preliminary reports, there are very few reasons a truck rear-ends someone like this without the driver doing something wrong. However, that can lead people to mistakenly believe a truck wreck like this is pretty much open-and-shut. Commercial vehicle accidents are rarely ever simple or straight-forward, and that’s because a proper investigation has to consider more than just the truck driver’s actions alone. But what do I mean?
I’ve worked hundreds of commercial vehicle accident cases, and in many of them our investigators ultimately found serious mistakes that a trucking company made long before their driver got behind the wheel. For example: Was the trucker in Carson County trying to meet an unreasonable deadline? This can lead to drivers speeding, driving while fatigued, or looking at cell phones or other devices while driving. Also, did the company properly maintain the truck? If they skip that to save on time or cut costs, a predictable and avoidable mechanical issue could lead to a crash. Furthermore, was the driver experienced and qualified? Was he fully trained? Does his driving history have any concerning red flags?
That’s just a few of the many question to answer following a commercial truck accident. At the end of the day, there needs to be accountability for the harm done to the victims and families. That’s rarely easy and there’s not always a single at-fault party, and it’s important that everyone responsible for the damage gets more than a slap on the wrist. A just resolution usually entails knowing the whole story, and it means ensuring all mistakes are brought to light and addressed thoroughly.
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