A tire failure on a semi-truck led to a chain-reaction crash involving three 18-wheelers Sunday morning on U.S. Highway 285 in Reeves County, Texas.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the crash occurred around 9:45 a.m. when the driver of a northbound Kenworth semi-truck lost control after the truck’s front left tire reportedly failed. The reportedly truck crossed into the southbound lanes and collided head-on with a Freightliner hauling a trailer. Sources say, after the initial collision, the Kenworth continued forward and sideswiped a second Kenworth semi-truck that was following behind the Freightliner. The driver of the northbound Kenworth, 26-year-old Adam Joe Ferguson of Canute, Oklahoma, was killed at the scene. The driver of the Freightliner was treated for minor injuries, while the third truck driver was not hurt.
When I hear about a fatal crash involving a tire failure on a semi-truck, I think about whether that tire failed because of how it was maintained or how it was made. In my experience, tire blowouts and component failures like this aren’t always the result of wear and tear alone. Sometimes they happen because a defective product made its way onto the road. A thorough investigation into the tire and wheel assembly is the only way to find out.
Could a Defective Tire Have Caused the Crash?
Tires on commercial trucks are built to handle high speeds, heavy loads, and long distances. When one fails in a way that causes a driver to lose control, it’s important to determine whether that failure was due to a defect in the tire’s design, materials, or manufacturing process.
In a case like this, investigators will need to secure the failed tire and surrounding wheel components for forensic analysis. If the tire separated, ruptured, or failed prematurely, that could point toward a defect that may extend beyond this single incident, especially if the tire was relatively new or had not reached the end of its service life.
What Evidence Should Be Collected?
To properly investigate whether a tire defect contributed to this crash, the damaged tire, wheel, and axle components must be preserved. Investigators should document the tire’s make, model, DOT identification number, and production history. These details can help identify whether the tire was part of a batch with previous failure reports or subject to recall.
Maintenance records, inspection logs, and recent service history will also be important in determining whether the tire failure could have been anticipated. In addition, Engine Control Module (ECM) data from the truck can provide key information on speed, braking, and throttle activity at the time of the blowout.
Why It’s Crucial to Fully Investigate Accidents Like This
When a tire failure on a semi-truck leads to loss of control and ends in a fatal crash, it’s critical to understand exactly why that tire failed. From my experience, the only way to uncover the full story is through a careful review of the product itself—how it was made, how it was installed, and how it performed on the road. If the failure was caused by a manufacturing or design defect, identifying that issue could help in holding the right parties accountable.