Authorities report that 43-year-old Travis Abernathy of Amarillo was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 West, roughly 18 miles west of Sierra Blanca in Hudspeth County. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Abernathy’s vehicle left the roadway and rolled several times after a malfunction involving the vehicle’s left tires. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident remains under investigation.
When a crash begins with a tire malfunction, it raises important questions about potential product defects or maintenance failures. In my experience, tire-related issues are often underestimated as contributing factors, but they can play a critical role in high-speed crashes.
Could a Defective Tire Have Triggered the Crash?
Any time law enforcement attributes a crash to a tire malfunction, it’s important to determine whether that failure was caused by a manufacturing defect or improper maintenance. Investigators should examine whether the tires were recalled, improperly installed, or had any structural flaws that could have caused a blowout or tread separation. In similar cases I’ve worked on, we’ve found that even relatively new tires can suffer catastrophic failures due to poor quality control or design flaws.
What Evidence Should Be Reviewed?
To fully understand what went wrong, it’s critical to recover and preserve the failed tire for forensic analysis. Investigators should look for signs of belt separation, irregular wear, or sidewall defects. Reviewing the vehicle’s service history and checking for open recalls can also help clarify whether the tire failure could have been prevented. In cases like this, even small details can shed light on how and why the failure occurred.
Why It’s Crucial to Investigate Crashes Like This
Crashes that begin with equipment malfunctions often go overlooked. But when a tire fails and causes a fatal rollover, it’s essential that investigators uncover the full story. A thorough and objective review of the vehicle components involved, especially when a malfunction is the suspected trigger, is the best way to figure out why the failure happened and whether a manufacturer or other party may be responsible.