18-Wheeler Crash on Westbound I-20 at US 175 in Dallas Closes Exit Lane

Two commercial truck drivers were killed in a fatal tractor-trailer collision on County Road 302 in Reeves County Friday morning, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS identified the drivers as Juan Pizano, 48, of Joshua, Texas, and Laydeker Chivas, 42, of Odessa. According to the preliminary investigation, Pizano was driving a tractor-truck towing a trailer westbound on County Road 302 while Chivas was traveling eastbound in another tractor-trailer. DPS said the westbound truck crossed the center line in a marked no-passing zone and entered the eastbound lane, where the trucks collided. The force of the crash ejected both drivers. Both suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. The collision remains under investigation. What Happened in the Fatal Reeves County Truck Crash? The collision involved two tractor-trailers traveling in opposite directions on County Road 302. DPS reported that the westbound tractor-trailer crossed the center line in an area marked as a no-passing zone before colliding with the eastbound commercial truck. The preliminary DPS report is significant, but it does not necessarily answer every question relevant to a civil truck-wreck investigation. Investigators may still need to determine why the westbound truck crossed the center line and whether driver conduct, vehicle condition, fatigue, mechanical problems, roadway conditions, or another factor contributed. Why a Two-Truck Fatality Requires a Detailed Investigation A fatal collision involving two commercial vehicles can involve evidence from two drivers, two trucks, and potentially two motor carriers. Each trucking company may possess records that help reconstruct what happened before impact. Potential issues may include: Vehicle speed before the collision Driver steering and braking Lane position Driver fatigue Hours-of-service compliance Cellphone use or distraction Tractor and trailer maintenance Brake and tire condition GPS and telematics information Dispatch instructions Driver training and qualification Cargo weight and loading The available DPS information does not establish that any particular one of these factors caused the collision. Electronic Truck Data May Be Especially Important Modern commercial trucks can contain electronic information showing how a vehicle was being operated immediately before a crash. Depending on the equipment installed, investigators may seek data concerning: Vehicle speed Brake application Throttle position Engine operation Sudden deceleration GPS location Driver hours and movement Dash-camera recordings When two tractor-trailers collide head-on or nearly head-on, electronic data from both trucks may help investigators compare their movements and determine precisely when one vehicle crossed into the opposing lane. Trucking-Company Records That May Need to Be Preserved A truck accident lawyer may also investigate company records beyond the physical vehicles. Potentially important evidence can include: Driver qualification files Employment and training records Hours-of-service logs Electronic logging device data Dispatch communications Safety policies Vehicle inspection reports Maintenance and repair history Prior reported mechanical problems Cargo records Insurance information These records may help determine whether the crash resulted solely from an individual driving decision or whether company practices or vehicle-related issues also contributed. Why Ejection Evidence Matters in a Fatal Truck Wreck DPS reported that both truck drivers were ejected during the collision. A civil investigation may examine the severity and direction of impact, cab damage, occupant-restraint evidence, vehicle deformation, and the final resting positions of the trucks. This evidence may help accident-reconstruction experts understand the forces involved and sequence of events. The fact that both drivers were ejected does not by itself establish why the collision occurred. Who May Be Responsible After a Fatal Commercial Truck Collision? Responsibility in a commercial truck wreck can extend beyond an individual driver. Depending on what the investigation shows, potentially responsible parties may include: A truck driver A motor carrier or employer The tractor or trailer owner A maintenance contractor A cargo-loading company Another company controlling the truck’s operation A vehicle or component manufacturer in an appropriate case The evidence must be evaluated before responsibility can be determined. Wrongful Death Claims After a Texas 18-Wheeler Wreck When a person dies in a commercial truck crash, certain surviving family members may have rights under Texas wrongful-death law. Depending on the circumstances, a wrongful-death claim may include damages associated with loss of financial support, companionship, mental anguish, and other losses recognized under Texas law. A separate survival claim may also exist for damages suffered by the deceased person before death, depending on the facts. Each case depends on the family relationships, available evidence, and circumstances of the collision. How a Texas Truck Wreck Lawyer Can Investigate the Crash A fatal 18-wheeler case may require immediate preservation of electronic and company evidence. A truck accident lawyer may seek data from both commercial vehicles, review driver records, inspect the tractors and trailers, obtain dash-camera footage, examine maintenance history, locate witnesses, identify the motor carriers involved, and determine the insurance coverage available. The Wooley Law Firm provides more information about these investigations through its Dallas truck accident lawyer resource. Lost a Family Member in a Texas 18-Wheeler Crash? The Wooley Law Firm represents people seriously injured and families who have lost loved ones in 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, and commercial vehicle crashes throughout Texas. If your family was affected by a fatal commercial truck collision, The Wooley Law Firm can investigate the drivers and trucking companies, work to preserve electronic and corporate evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, and handle communications with commercial insurance carriers. Call (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don't pay unless we win. This article is based on preliminary information released by the Texas Department of Public Safety concerning an ongoing investigation. DPS reported that two tractor-trailers collided on County Road 302 in Reeves County after a westbound truck crossed the center line in a marked no-passing zone. Both drivers were killed. Additional facts may become available as the investigation continues. Nothing in this article makes a final determination of civil liability. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

A semi-truck crashed and appeared to jackknife near Gateway West and Harnose in far East El Paso late Sunday night, October 25, 2026. The wreck happened before approximately 11:30 p.m. Images from roadway cameras showed significant front-end damage to the commercial truck and the tractor-trailer positioned across part of the roadway. The left lane was blocked, while two right lanes remained available to traffic as emergency crews worked at the scene. Additional information about possible injuries and what caused the 18-wheeler to crash had not yet been released. What Happened in the Gateway West Semi-Truck Crash? The collision occurred near Gateway West Boulevard and Harnose Drive in East El Paso. Initial reporting indicated that the tractor-trailer appeared to have jackknifed. A jackknife occurs when the trailer swings out of alignment with the tractor, potentially leaving the truck stretched across several lanes. Authorities had not yet explained why the truck lost control. Because the crash occurred during a period of changing weather in the El Paso area, investigators may examine roadway and weather conditions, but it had not been confirmed that weather caused this wreck. Why a Jackknifed 18-Wheeler Requires a Detailed Investigation A tractor-trailer can jackknife for several different reasons, and determining the cause may require examination of the driver, truck, trailer, and roadway. Potential issues investigators may consider include: Vehicle speed before the crash Sudden or improper braking Tire condition Brake condition or imbalance Trailer movement Cargo weight and securement Driver steering input Driver fatigue or distraction Wet or slippery roadway conditions Whether another vehicle contributed to the collision None of these factors has yet been established as the cause of this East El Paso truck wreck. Evidence That May Matter After a Jackknife Truck Accident Commercial trucks can contain electronic and business records that may help reconstruct a collision. Potentially important evidence may include: Electronic control module data GPS and telematics records Dash-camera footage Driver logs and electronic logging device data Dispatch communications Tractor and trailer inspection records Brake and tire maintenance history Cargo weight and loading records Cellphone records when legally relevant Traffic-camera footage Crash-scene photographs Post-crash mechanical inspections The visible front-end damage to the semi may also be important in determining whether the tractor struck another object or vehicle before the trailer jackknifed. Why Trucking-Company Records Can Be Important An 18-wheeler accident investigation often extends beyond the actions of the individual truck driver. The motor carrier may possess information concerning the driver’s schedule, training, hours of service, dispatch instructions, maintenance history, and prior mechanical problems. Depending on what the evidence shows, potentially responsible parties could include the driver, motor carrier, truck owner, maintenance contractor, cargo company, or another motorist. No determination of responsibility has been made in this collision. How a Texas Truck Wreck Lawyer Can Investigate a Jackknife Crash Commercial trucking evidence may be stored electronically or maintained by companies involved in operating the truck. A truck accident lawyer may seek to preserve the tractor and trailer, download electronic data, obtain available video, review driver and company records, inspect the truck’s braking and tire systems, locate witnesses, and identify all potentially applicable commercial insurance policies. The Wooley Law Firm provides additional information about commercial-truck investigations through its Dallas truck accident lawyer resource. Injured in an 18-Wheeler Accident in Texas? The Wooley Law Firm represents people injured in serious 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, box truck, and other commercial vehicle crashes throughout Texas. If you or a family member was injured in a commercial truck wreck, The Wooley Law Firm can investigate the driver and trucking company, work to preserve electronic and corporate evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, and handle communications with commercial insurance carriers. Call (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don't pay unless we win. This article concerns a developing traffic incident. Initial reporting indicates that a semi-truck crashed and appeared to jackknife near Gateway West and Harnose in East El Paso. Information about injuries, weather conditions, other vehicles involved, and the cause of the collision may change as authorities release additional details. Nothing in this article assigns fault before the investigation is complete. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

A serious 18-wheeler crash on Highway 31 near Chandler sent one person to the hospital Sunday, October 25, 2026, and forced authorities to shut down traffic while emergency crews worked at the scene. According to Smith County ESD 2, an 18-wheeler struck a white pickup truck in the 16000 block of Highway 31 West near Chandler. One person was injured and transported to a hospital. Traffic in the area was shut down during the emergency response. Authorities had not yet released additional information about the injured person’s condition, how the collision occurred, or what led the 18-wheeler and pickup to collide. What Happened in the Highway 31 18-Wheeler Crash Near Chandler? The collision occurred on Highway 31 West in Smith County near Chandler. Emergency officials reported that an 18-wheeler collided with a white pickup truck. One person required hospital treatment, and the roadway was closed while first responders worked at the crash scene. At this stage, investigators have not publicly determined what caused the wreck. Because this is a developing investigation, no conclusion should be drawn about whether the truck driver, pickup driver, another motorist, or another factor caused the collision. Why an 18-Wheeler Crash Requires a Different Investigation A collision involving a tractor-trailer can require substantially more investigation than an ordinary passenger-vehicle wreck. A commercial truck may contain electronic data showing speed, braking, throttle position, and other information from the moments before impact. The trucking company may also possess driver records, dispatch communications, GPS information, maintenance documents, and other evidence relevant to determining what happened. A truck-wreck investigation may examine: The truck driver’s actions before impact Speed and following distance Lane position and turning movements Driver fatigue or distraction Hours-of-service information when applicable Tractor and trailer maintenance Brake and tire condition Cargo weight and securement GPS and telematics information Company dispatch communications Driver training and qualification records None of these factors has yet been identified as the cause of this Highway 31 crash. Evidence That Should Be Preserved After a Texas 18-Wheeler Wreck Commercial trucking evidence can become critical when the parties disagree about how a collision occurred. Potential evidence may include: Dash-camera footage Electronic control module data GPS and telematics records Driver logs Driver qualification records Dispatch communications Tractor and trailer inspection records Maintenance and repair history Brake and tire records Cargo and loading records Cellphone records when legally relevant Crash-scene photographs and measurements Surveillance or traffic-camera video Witness statements The investigating agency’s crash report The physical damage to the pickup and tractor-trailer may also help accident reconstruction experts determine the vehicles’ positions and movements before impact. Why Trucking-Company Records Can Matter An 18-wheeler driver may be operating for a motor carrier that owns, leases, dispatches, or controls the commercial vehicle. Depending on the circumstances, investigators may need to determine who employed the driver, who owned the tractor and trailer, who maintained the truck, and whether another company was responsible for loading or dispatching it. Potentially responsible parties in a Texas truck accident may include the driver, motor carrier, truck owner, maintenance contractor, cargo company, or another motorist. Liability depends on the evidence developed in the individual case. Serious Injuries After an 18-Wheeler and Pickup Truck Collision The size and weight difference between an 18-wheeler and a pickup truck can expose occupants of the smaller vehicle to substantial crash forces. Truck wreck injuries may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, neck and back injuries, and other serious or permanent conditions. KLTV reported that one person was injured and transported to a hospital after this collision, but the person’s identity and medical condition had not been released. How a Texas Truck Wreck Lawyer Can Investigate the Crash A serious commercial truck case may require immediate efforts to identify and preserve evidence before it is overwritten, repaired, discarded, or lost. A truck accident lawyer may investigate the driver and motor carrier, obtain available electronic truck data, request video recordings, review maintenance and inspection records, identify insurance coverage, locate witnesses, and determine which companies may be responsible. For people injured in commercial vehicle crashes, The Wooley Law Firm provides additional information about how these cases are investigated through its Dallas truck accident lawyer resource. Injured in an 18-Wheeler Wreck in Texas? The Wooley Law Firm represents people injured in serious 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, box truck, and commercial vehicle accidents throughout Texas. If you or a family member was injured in a truck wreck, The Wooley Law Firm can investigate the driver and trucking company, work to preserve electronic and company evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, and handle communications with the commercial insurance carriers. Call (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don't pay unless we win. This article is based on preliminary information released by Smith County emergency officials concerning an ongoing investigation. One person was reported injured and transported to a hospital. Additional information about the vehicles, injuries, and cause of the collision may become available. Nothing in this article assigns fault before the investigation is complete. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.