Montague County, TX — April 1, 2024, two people were injured following a truck accident shortly before 6:15 p.m. along U.S. Highway 81.
According to authorities, a 19-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were traveling in a northbound Hyundai Elantra on U.S. 81 in the vicinity north of the Pump Station Road intersection when the accident took place.
The weather and road conditions in the area at the time are reported to have been rainy and wet with areas of standing water. Officials indicate that a southbound 18-wheeler on the highway hydroplaned and lost control, as a result. It reportedly veered left, crossing over the center line and entering the northbound lane of the highway. This resulted in a collision between the 18-wheeler and the Elantra. The collision forced the Elantra off of the right side of the road; it came to a stop facing east in the roadside ditch.
The 19-year-old man from the Elantra suffered serious injuries, reports state, and the woman sustained minor injuries. They were each transported to local medical facilities by emergency medical services in order to receive necessary treatment. No other injuries have been reported.
Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identities of the victims—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Contrary to what most people might think looking at this accident, there are several important aspects to consider that go beyond the immediate details reported. My years of experience working with cases like this one have taught me the importance of making sure investigators have turned over every leaf in looking for answers as to why a truck accident has taken place.
First off, the fact that the 18-wheeler hydroplaned and veered into the oncoming lane is a serious concern. Hydroplaning, for those not familiar, is what happens when a vehicle slides uncontrollably on a wet surface. In the case of an 18-wheeler, which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, losing control like this can lead to catastrophic results.
This scenario raises several questions about the conditions under which the truck was operating. Was the driver going too fast for the wet conditions? This is a key point because truck drivers are required to adjust their speed to ensure safety, not just stick to the speed limit. That would likely be an issue of training. Driving a massive truck isn’t like driving a car; it requires specialized skills, especially when navigating through adverse weather conditions. The training that the driver received, or possibly didn’t receive, could play a big part in how well they managed to handle the situation.
Another angle to look into is how well the truck was maintained. Were the tires in good shape? Were they suitable for wet conditions? The maintenance of commercial vehicles is critical and is supposed to be tightly regulated, but as we see in some cases, not all companies or drivers adhere to these standards rigorously.
What do all of these issues have in common? They focus on the behavior of the truck driver’s employer, the company’s actions. It’s an employer’s job to maintain the equipment that its employees use. It’s also on the trucking company properly train and supervise its employees.
My point in bringing all this up is because people often rely on police investigations to get the answers they need to hold wrongdoers accountable. The truth is that many of the most important questions in terms of holding a trucking company or driver accountable for their actions can’t be answered by a police investigation that doesn’t go beyond the crash scene.
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