Garrett, TX — December 9, 2025, Stephanie Manuel was injured due to a truck accident at approximately 5:00 p.m. along Farm to Market 879.
According to authorities, 44-year-old Stephanie Manuel was traveling in an eastbound Hyundai Sonata on F.M. 879 near the Birdsong Road intersection when the accident took place.
Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, an eastbound Peterbilt 18-wheeler with a trailer in tow failed to appropriately control its speed, attempted to pass the Sonata in a no-passing zone, and took faulty evasive action. A collision consequently occurred between the front-right of the Peterbilt and the front-left quarter of the Sonata.
Manuel reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. 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 a fully loaded 18-wheeler attempts to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone—and then loses control in the process—that’s not just poor judgment; it’s a clear breach of commercial driving standards that exist to protect everyone else on the road. Professional drivers are expected to exercise more caution than the average motorist, not less. Attempting a high-risk maneuver in a restricted zone—while unable to maintain full control—shows a breakdown in the basic decision-making that commercial driving requires.
Legally speaking, no-passing zones are designated for good reason. They often involve limited visibility, tight road geometry, or intersections where a passing attempt would put both vehicles at immediate risk. If the truck driver attempted to pass anyway, the core legal question becomes whether that maneuver was reckless under the circumstances—or even unlawful given the posted traffic controls.
From there, attention turns to the company that put that truck on the road. If the driver was rushing to meet a delivery deadline, unfamiliar with the route, or inadequately trained, that points to larger failures beyond a single bad choice. I’ve seen similar cases where dispatch pressure and poor route planning led drivers to take unnecessary risks—risks that companies could have prevented with better oversight.
In this case, investigators will be looking closely at dash cam footage, black box data, and the truck’s position relative to the no-passing zone. If the vehicle’s speed, lane placement, or steering inputs show a last-second overcorrection, that will likely support the claim that this was an unsafe—and avoidable—maneuver.
Key Takeaways:
- Attempting to pass in a no-passing zone reflects a serious lapse in professional judgment by a commercial driver.
- The truck driver’s failure to maintain control while passing may indicate excessive speed or panic steering.
- No-passing zones are marked to prevent exactly the kind of hazard this collision appears to represent.
- The trucking company may bear responsibility if the driver was pressured, undertrained, or unfit for the route.
- Investigators will rely on dash cam footage, ECM data, and roadway markings to confirm how the crash unfolded and who was at fault.
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