Bowie County, TX — April 12, 2025, Roger Shaver Jr. was injured in a truck accident at about 5 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 30.
A preliminary accident report indicates a 2019 Ford F-250 hauling a trailer crashed into the back end of a 2007 Dodge Caravan near Red Lick.
Dodge driver Roger Shaver Jr., 55, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report, while the 60-year-old man driving the Ford suffered a possible injury.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Bowie County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a pickup truck hauling a trailer rear-ends a smaller vehicle like a Dodge Caravan on the interstate, especially in the early morning hours, the legal focus turns to whether the driver of the larger vehicle was maintaining proper control and following distance. Hauling a trailer adds a layer of complexity that changes how quickly a vehicle can stop and how stable it remains in emergency situations. That increased risk carries a corresponding increase in responsibility.
At 5 a.m., lighting conditions are often poor, and drivers may be dealing with fatigue or reduced alertness. That makes it even more critical for someone hauling a trailer to remain focused, give themselves plenty of space and drive at a speed that allows for sudden changes in traffic. When those precautions aren’t taken, the margin for error disappears quickly, especially for the driver of the vehicle being struck, who usually has no chance to avoid the collision.
The key question here is why the Ford struck the back of the Dodge. Was the smaller vehicle moving slowly, stopped or making a maneuver like a lane change? Was the Ford’s driver following too closely, speeding or distracted? Investigators will need to look at vehicle data, statements from both drivers and physical evidence from the scene to answer those questions. But in general, the duty to avoid a rear-end collision falls heavily on the following driver, particularly when towing a load that increases stopping distance.
It’s also important to consider the condition of the trailer itself. Was it properly balanced? Were the brakes functional? Improperly loaded or poorly maintained trailers are a frequent cause of rear-end collisions, because they reduce braking efficiency and can even push the towing vehicle forward in a panic stop.
When the result is a serious injury, as it was here, the investigation must do more than confirm who hit whom. It needs to determine whether the driver hauling the trailer took every reasonable step to avoid causing harm, because when someone is seriously hurt on a highway, the law doesn’t just ask whether rules were broken. It asks whether good judgment was used. And in cases involving towed equipment, that judgment has to start long before the keys ever hit the ignition.
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