Tarrant County, TX — January 9, 2026, one person was injured due to a truck accident at approximately 12:30 p.m. along Cooper Street (F.M. 157).

According to authorities, an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl were traveling in a northbound Hyundai Sonata on Cooper Street approaching the Peyco Drive intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a southbound Freightliner attempted a left turn at an unsafe time, failing to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. A collision consequently occurred between the back-right quarter of the truck and the front-end of the Sonata.

The 18-year-old reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident. It does not appear that anyone else was hurt.

Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a commercial truck attempts a left turn across oncoming lanes and collides with a passenger vehicle, the legal question almost always centers on whether that turn was made safely and lawfully. In this case, it appears the truck cut across the path of a vehicle that had the right-of-way, resulting in a serious injury to the driver.

Left-turn crashes are among the most common—and preventable—types of intersection collisions involving commercial trucks. Timing and visibility are critical. A turning driver must be certain there’s enough time to complete the maneuver without forcing others to brake or swerve. That includes factoring in the truck’s slower acceleration, trailer length, and how much space it actually needs to clear the intersection.

Investigators should focus on several issues:

  • Whether the Freightliner had an unobstructed view of oncoming traffic, and if not, what contributed to that limited visibility;
  • How fast the oncoming vehicle was traveling, and whether it had any opportunity to avoid the crash;
  • Whether the intersection had any traffic controls, signs, or left-turn guidance, such as a protected turn arrow;
  • What the truck driver’s field of view and decision-making process were, particularly if the vehicle was long or had visibility obstructions;
  • Dash cams, surveillance video, or witness statements, which can clarify who moved when and whether the turn truly was unsafe.

I’ve handled many intersection crash cases where commercial drivers misjudged distance or assumed other vehicles would yield. But the law is clear: oncoming traffic has the right-of-way unless specifically directed otherwise by a signal or control device. That principle applies whether you’re turning in a passenger car or behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound truck.

Key Takeaways:

  • A left-turning truck is required to yield to oncoming traffic, and failure to do so can create liability even in low-speed intersections.
  • Investigators must assess visibility, traffic control devices, and turn timing to determine whether the maneuver was safe and lawful.
  • Dash cams and traffic cameras may play a critical role in verifying the sequence of events.
  • The severity of the injury raises questions about how much time the Sonata had to react before impact.
  • Fault in left-turn collisions typically hinges on whether the turn was made in clear and predictable conditions.

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