1 Injured in Truck Accident on State Highway 7 near Marquez, TX

Leon County, TX — August 25, 2025, a Centerville man was injured in a truck accident at about 8:55 a.m. on State Highway 7 west of Marquez.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a westbound 2019 Western Star semi-truck collided with a 2007 Peterbilt semi-truck that was turning from Noey Extension Road.

The Western Star driver, a 47-year-old Centerville man, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report. His name has not been made public yet.

The Peterbilt driver, who was listed as possibly injured, was cited for making a turn while unsafe, the report states.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Leon County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When two 18-wheelers collide, especially when one is in the middle of turning and the other is driving straight, there are usually more questions than answers at the outset. Based on what’s been released, we know that one truck was turning off a side road and the other was headed west on Highway 7 when the collision occurred. The turning driver has already been cited for making an unsafe turn. That’s a starting point, but not the end of the story.

The key legal question here is: What made the turn unsafe? Was it poor judgment on the part of the turning driver, or was there something about the road, visibility or even the behavior of the other truck that made the maneuver dangerous?

For example, it’s not clear whether the Peterbilt was turning left across oncoming traffic or making a right-hand turn into the same lane. That distinction matters a great deal. If the truck was turning left and failed to yield, that’s usually a straightforward violation. But if the turn was to the right and the other truck hit it from behind, that points to a different kind of mistake, possibly by the trailing driver. The citation suggests fault, but we still need to understand why the turn happened when it did and whether it could have been avoided.

This is where black box data from both trucks can shed real light. How fast was each vehicle going? Did either brake in time? Were there any evasive maneuvers, or did one of them just plow into the other? In-cab cameras, if available, could also show what each driver saw and reacted to, or failed to.

Another key source of insight is the turning driver’s record. If a commercial driver has a history of risky decisions, that can speak volumes about the company’s oversight. I’ve handled cases where trucking companies hired drivers with red flags all over their records, then claimed surprise when something went wrong. In one case, a driver had been fired from multiple jobs but still got behind the wheel of a company truck with minimal screening. That kind of hiring practice all but guarantees bad outcomes.

At the same time, I’ve seen situations where the driver who got hurt wasn’t totally blameless either. If the injured driver was speeding, distracted or tailgating, that could change the entire legal picture. The fact that he was seriously injured doesn’t necessarily mean he was innocent. It just means he took the brunt of the impact.

Bottom line: The citation tells us where investigators are leaning, but without a full review of dash cams, engine control modules, driver histories and witness statements, it’s impossible to say who should bear the legal responsibility. That’s why these cases demand a thorough, independent investigation, not just a quick glance at the crash scene.

Key Takeaways:

• A citation for an unsafe turn suggests fault but doesn’t explain why the turn was unsafe.
• Evidence like black box data and dash cams can help clarify how the crash really happened.
• The direction and nature of the turn (left vs. right) is a critical unanswered question.
• Driver records and hiring practices often reveal deeper issues behind a crash.
• A full investigation is needed before determining who should be held accountable.