Smith County, TX — January 29, 2025, one person was killed and another was injured in a truck accident at about 6 p.m. on State Highway 155.
Authorities said a southbound pickup crashed into the back end of a semi-truck that was stopped in the outside lane of the road near Noonday. The semi-truck driver had parked to gain access to a gated driveway.
The passenger in the pickup died after being transported to a local hospital, authorities said, while the driver suffered unspecified injuries. Their names have not been made public at this time.
No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash. The accident is under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When I hear about a crash where a pickup collides with the back of a parked semi-truck in an active traffic lane, my first question is, “Why was the truck stopped in a travel lane, and did the pickup driver have enough warning to react?” Many people assume rear-end collisions are always the fault of the trailing driver, but in my experience, crashes like this often raise serious questions about whether the parked vehicle created an avoidable hazard.
One of the first things investigators should determine is whether the truck driver had any other safe options besides stopping in the roadway. Gaining access to a gated driveway is not uncommon for large commercial vehicles, but stopping in a lane of travel — even temporarily — creates a dangerous situation. Investigators should determine whether the trucker could have pulled onto the shoulder or used an alternate entrance to avoid blocking traffic.
Another key factor is visibility. Was the semi-truck equipped with hazard lights, reflective markings or other warnings to alert approaching drivers? This crash happened around 6 p.m., a time when lighting conditions can be tricky, especially if the sun was setting or if the area was poorly lit. I’ve seen cases where trucks parked in travel lanes at night became nearly invisible to oncoming drivers, leading to devastating collisions.
Speed and reaction time are also worth considering. Investigators should determine whether the pickup driver had enough time and space to recognize the stopped truck and slow down safely. Reviewing skid marks, ECM (black box) data and available surveillance footage could provide insight into whether the pickup driver was distracted or if they simply didn’t have enough time to avoid the collision.
At this stage, too little is known to determine exactly what caused this crash, but that’s why a thorough investigation is necessary. Looking at the truck’s positioning, its visibility to other drivers and whether there were safer alternatives to stopping in the lane will be key in understanding why this crash happened.
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