Three people were killed and one person injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck on SH-36 just south of Milano in Milam County. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 43-year-old Clint McCaffety of Temple was stopped in the westbound lane at the direction of a construction flagger. A Kia SUV was stopped behind his Ford sedan when a 2025 Freightliner semi-truck, for reasons still under investigation, failed to stop and crashed into both vehicles. McCaffety, his 16-year-old passenger, and 39-year-old Meghan Nicole McCaffety were all pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Kia was hospitalized with injuries.
Whenever I see a crash like this involving a semi-truck that allegedly failed to stop for slowed or stopped traffic, I think about the steps investigators must take to uncover the full story. In my experience, these types of crashes often reveal important details that aren’t obvious at first, but they’re crucial to understanding why the accident happened in the first place.
Was the Semi-Truck Driver Distracted or Fatigued?
A key question in any rear-end collision involving a commercial truck is whether the driver was paying attention. Investigators will likely look into whether the truck driver was distracted—perhaps by a phone, navigation system, or other in-cab devices—or if he had been driving too long without rest. Driver fatigue is a common factor in crashes like this, and the trucker’s logs, rest schedule, and recent activity should all be closely reviewed.
Could Mechanical Issues Have Contributed?
Another possibility is that the truck had a mechanical issue—like faulty brakes or worn tires—that prevented it from stopping in time. Investigators will need to inspect the semi-truck’s braking system, tire condition, and maintenance history to rule out whether equipment failure played a role in this crash.
What Evidence Should Investigators Review?
To determine what went wrong, investigators should gather data from the truck’s Engine Control Module (ECM), which may reveal the vehicle’s speed and braking activity before impact. Dashcam footage, if available, could show whether the truck driver gave themselves adequate space to stop or take evasive action. In addition, records from the driver’s electronic logbook, any delivery schedules, and the carrier’s maintenance records will all be essential to understand the circumstances leading up to the crash.
The Importance of a Full Investigation
In a crash that results in multiple deaths and serious injuries, it's critical to examine every factor that may have contributed—whether it's driver behavior, mechanical issues, or something else. From my experience handling truck accident cases, a complete investigation often brings to light important facts that help provide answers to those affected by the crash.