Amarillo, TX — November 10, 2024, one person was injured in a truck accident at about 3:35 a.m. on South Osage Street.
A preliminary accident report indicates a 2017 Kenworth semi-truck collided with a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado when it pulled out of a private parking lot.
The driver of the Chevrolet, a 25-year-old man whose name has not been made public, suffered suspected serious injuries in the crash, according to authorities.
The truck driver, who was not injured, was cited for failure to yield, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Potter County crash.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When I see that a truck driver was cited for failure to yield while pulling out of a private parking lot, my first thought is that this crash was likely preventable. Commercial drivers are trained to be extra cautious when entering a roadway because their vehicles take longer to accelerate and can easily obstruct traffic if they misjudge the timing. If this driver failed to properly gauge the speed and distance of approaching vehicles, that points to a serious lapse in judgment.
One question that should be investigated is whether the truck driver’s visibility was obstructed. Was there proper lighting in the parking lot? Were there objects blocking the driver’s view? That’s not to excuse the truck driver’s mistake, but it’s important to determine whether other factors contributed to the crash.
Another issue worth looking into is whether the driver was in a rush. Some trucking companies pressure drivers to stick to tight schedules, which can lead to risky decisions, like pulling out into traffic when it’s not completely safe. Investigators should examine any available dashcam footage and black box data to determine whether the truck driver made a reckless move or simply miscalculated.
At this point, we know the truck driver failed to yield, but that’s only part of the story. If authorities don’t dig deeper into the circumstances surrounding this crash, they may overlook important details about why it really happened.
