Two people were killed early Saturday morning after a semi-truck struck a disabled passenger vehicle on Interstate 40 near Alanreed, Texas.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred around 2:16 a.m. about three miles west of Alanreed. Authorities reported that a 2020 Freightliner truck tractor towing a semi-trailer was traveling eastbound on I-40 when it collided with a disabled 2018 Chevrolet Camaro that was in the roadway after an earlier crash. Officials stated that severe weather and dark conditions at the time made it difficult for the semi-truck driver to see the stranded vehicle. The truck struck the Camaro on the passenger side. The Camaro’s driver, 21-year-old Bryan Ordaz-Reyes of Dumas, Texas, and his passenger, 19-year-old Braxton Amador of Dumas, Texas, were both pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the semi-truck was uninjured. The crash remains under investigation.
Whenever I hear about a crash involving a semi-truck striking a disabled vehicle on the highway, I think about how critical it is for commercial drivers to adjust their speed and maintain heightened awareness, especially in poor visibility conditions. In my experience, the responsibility to drive cautiously doesn’t disappear simply because conditions are difficult; it becomes even more important.
Could Distraction or Fatigue Have Limited the Truck Driver’s Ability to See the Hazard?
Driving through severe weather and darkness requires an elevated level of attention. When a commercial driver encounters reduced visibility, it’s critical to slow down and remain alert to unexpected hazards, including disabled vehicles. Even brief lapses in concentration, whether from fatigue, distraction, or other factors, can make it impossible to detect obstacles in time to avoid a collision.
Investigators should review the truck driver’s hours-of-service logs, electronic logging device (ELD) data, and any available in-cab video footage to assess whether distraction or fatigue played a role in the driver’s delayed reaction to the Camaro’s presence in the roadway.
Could Mechanical Issues Have Affected the Truck’s Ability to Avoid the Crash?
While visibility and reaction time are important factors, investigators should also consider whether any mechanical problems with the semi-truck contributed to the crash. Issues such as worn brakes, poor tire condition, or malfunctioning headlights could have reduced the driver’s ability to either spot the disabled vehicle or respond effectively once it was detected.
A thorough inspection of the truck’s braking system, tires, and lighting equipment, as well as a review of its maintenance history, will be crucial in determining whether mechanical deficiencies played a role.
Key Evidence That Should Be Reviewed
To fully understand the circumstances surrounding this crash, investigators should gather data from the truck’s Engine Control Module (ECM), which can reveal speed, braking efforts, and throttle activity in the seconds leading up to the impact. Physical evidence from the scene, including vehicle resting positions, debris patterns, and any available tire marks, will also help reconstruct the crash.
If dash cam footage is available from the semi-truck, it could also provide critical insight into what the driver could see at the time and how much opportunity there was to attempt evasive action.
Why Every Detail Deserves Careful Examination
From my experience, crashes involving commercial vehicles in poor weather and visibility conditions demand thorough scrutiny. It’s not enough to simply blame the environment. Investigators must closely examine driver behavior, vehicle condition, and every other contributing factor to determine what exactly happened. A full investigation is the only way to answer these important questions and establish accountability where it belongs.