Damon, TX — May 19, 2025, Ricky Schooler was injured in a truck accident at approximately 5:15 a.m. along State Highway 36.
According to reports, 74-year-old Ricky Schooler was traveling in a northbound Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck on S.H. 36 in the vicinity north of the County Road 18 intersection when the accident took place.
Authorities have noted that partial automation was engaged at the time of the accident. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the pickup failed to appropriately control its speed. It was consequently involved in a collision with the rear-end of a northbound Volvo 18-wheeler’s trailer. Schooler reportedly suffered serious injuries as a result of the wreck. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When automated systems are active during a crash, it shifts the usual assumptions. Instead of asking only what the driver did—or didn’t do—it becomes equally important to ask what the vehicle was supposed to be doing, and whether it actually followed through.
1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
A rear-end collision involving a pickup truck and a commercial trailer should be analyzed down to the inch. Investigators need to determine whether the vehicle’s automation was active at the time of impact, and whether any braking or avoidance attempt was made. That means reviewing crash data, mapping the trajectory, and understanding how much of the outcome was influenced by the technology versus human input. If that level of work wasn’t done, it’s impossible to say whether the system—or the driver—failed.
2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
Partial automation brings its own set of mechanical and software risks. A misread sensor, delayed response, or calibration issue could all lead to a failure to slow down. If the truck failed to control its speed as reports suggest, it’s critical to inspect both the mechanical braking system and the automated controls. Without that inspection, we’re just guessing at the cause—and guessing doesn’t hold up when someone gets seriously hurt.
3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Automated systems are data-heavy by design. Event data recorders, system logs, sensor feedback, and driver override records should all be retrieved and reviewed. That data could show whether the truck issued warnings, engaged braking, or failed to recognize the slowing vehicle ahead. Additionally, GPS and phone records could help determine whether the driver was relying on the system or manually in control. That evidence is often the only way to understand the handoff between human and machine.
With automation in the mix, crash investigations don’t just look at behavior—they look at performance. And when technology fails, understanding how it failed is the first step toward preventing it from happening again.
- Crashes involving automation demand full reconstruction and system review.
- A failure to control speed might point to software or sensor issues.
- System logs and driving data are key to understanding what went wrong.
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