Fayette County, TX — September 20, 2024, 33-year-old Sarah Logsdon was seriously injured in a crash with an 18-wheeler on State Highway 71 in Fayette County.
According to authorities, the accident happened around noon on Highway 71 at North Kirtley Road. Preliminary investigation suggests a Freightliner semi-truck with an attached trailer burned from North Kirtley toward the eastbound lanes of the highway. The driver stopped in the median crossover as Logsdon’s eastbound Honda CR-V approached the area.
Investigators allege that the Honda drifted left out of its lane for unknown reasons, then crashed into the right side of the Freightliner semi-truck. After the impact the Honda overturned and rolled, then slid some distance on its roof before coming to rest.
Sarah Logsdon was seriously injured in the accident; two 1-year-old boys in the vehicle reportedly sustained possible injuries of unknown nature or severity. Investigators say the Freightliner driver was unhurt.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
The details of this accident give sort of a mixed impression. On the one hand, investigators report the victim may have drifted out of her lane for some reason; on the other, they say that the truck driver stopped his full-sized truck/trailer combo in the median crossover rather than just waiting to turn from a much safer spot at the Kirtley Road stop sign. What advantage did he really gain from pulling into the center, especially incorrectly? More importantly, did he pose more of a risk to others in the crossover than he did at the stop sign? The injured victim might think so.
To be crystal clear, I’m not implying the whole thing was the trucker’s fault here. However, it’s important to know that commercial drivers are held to a higher standard of care than regular motorists are, due to how much devastating damage an 18-wheeler can cause if they get reckless. If something could or should have been done differently in Fayette County—such as the truck driver patiently waiting for enough time to fully complete an awkward turn instead of making half of it and then stopping—and a reasonably prudent professional driver would have done things differently, then some accountability seems justified for the choice that contributed to someone’s injuries. The truck driver and his employer aren’t likely to agree, however, which is why it’s important to investigate carefully and get the clear facts that tell the whole story.
I’ve cautioned many people not to think of the crash that hurt them or their loved ones as “open and shut” no matter how early reports portray it. Trucking companies and their insurers certainly don’t feel that way, and they’ll tip the scales in their favor if they can. Ensuring they’re held accountable will take clear evidence and expert analysis, neither of which are likely to come from law enforcement. Who will make sure the victim’s side of the story is told here?
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