Overturned Semi Shuts Down Southbound US 87 North of Amarillo

An 18-wheeler hauling a large load struck the underside of the Highway 39 overpass on Highway 79 near Jewett in Leon County, temporarily shutting down the roadway Monday evening. Officials said the truck’s load hit the bottom of the overpass, causing traffic delays and forcing authorities to close Highway 79 while the scene was addressed. The highway has since reopened. No injuries were reported in the initial news report. What Happened in the Leon County 18-Wheeler Incident? The incident occurred on Highway 79 in the Jewett area, where the commercial truck was carrying a large load beneath the Highway 39 overpass. Officials said the load being transported struck the bottom of the bridge. The available information does not yet explain the dimensions of the load, whether the truck was operating under an oversize-load permit, or whether the route had been approved for the height of the load. Why an Overheight Truck Strike Requires Investigation When a commercial truck or its cargo strikes an overpass, investigators may need to determine more than simply who was driving. Potential issues may include: The measured height of the truck and load The posted clearance of the overpass Whether the load required an oversize or overheight permit The route authorized by any applicable permit Whether the carrier performed a route survey Whether escort vehicles were required Whether the driver followed the approved route How the cargo was loaded and secured Whether dispatchers or other company personnel selected the route None of these issues has been established as a cause of this particular incident. Trucking-Company and Load Records May Be Important A commercial-truck investigation involving an oversized load may require records that would not normally be important in an ordinary car wreck. Potential evidence may include: Oversize-load permits Route authorizations Bills of lading Cargo dimensions and weight Dispatch instructions GPS and telematics data Driver qualification records Pre-trip inspection documents Escort or pilot-car records Dash-camera footage Communications between the driver, carrier, and shipper These records may help establish who planned the route and whether the truck was authorized to travel beneath the overpass. Who May Be Responsible for an Overpass Strike? Responsibility in an oversized-load incident can potentially involve several parties. Depending on the facts, those parties may include the driver, motor carrier, trucking company, shipper, loading company, route-planning company, or another business involved in arranging the transportation. If an overpass or roadway infrastructure is damaged, the investigation may also involve claims for repair costs in addition to any personal-injury or property-damage claims arising from the incident. How a Texas Truck Wreck Lawyer Can Investigate an Oversized-Load Crash Commercial trucking cases involving large or specialized loads can require prompt preservation of company records and electronic evidence. A truck accident lawyer may seek permit records, route plans, dispatch communications, GPS data, cargo information, photographs, inspection records, and other evidence showing how the trip was planned and operated. The Wooley Law Firm provides additional information about commercial-truck investigations through its Dallas truck accident lawyer resource. Injured in a Commercial Truck Wreck in Texas? The Wooley Law Firm represents people injured in 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, oversized-load, and other commercial vehicle crashes throughout Texas. If you or a family member was injured in a commercial truck collision, The Wooley Law Firm can investigate the trucking company, work to preserve electronic and corporate records, 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 reported concerning an incident on Highway 79 in Leon County. Officials said an 18-wheeler’s large load struck the Highway 39 overpass near Jewett, temporarily closing the highway. Additional information 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.

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 pedestrian suffered serious injuries after being struck by the cab of a semi-truck in east Lubbock Monday night, October 26, 2026. According to the Lubbock Police Department, officers responded at approximately 9:07 p.m. near East Rice Street and Magnolia Avenue. The pedestrian was found with serious injuries and transported to University Medical Center for treatment. The Lubbock Police Department’s Major Crash Unit is investigating the collision. Authorities have not yet released additional information about how the crash happened, the identity of the pedestrian, or whether any citations or charges are expected. What Happened in the East Lubbock Semi-Truck Pedestrian Crash? Police reported that the pedestrian was struck by the cab of a semi-truck near East Rice Street and Magnolia Avenue. The available information does not yet explain where the pedestrian was located immediately before impact, how the truck was moving, or what the truck driver could see before the collision. Those details may become important as investigators determine how the crash occurred. Because the investigation remains ongoing, no conclusion should be drawn about fault based solely on the fact that a commercial truck struck a pedestrian. Why Pedestrian Crashes Involving Semi-Trucks Require a Detailed Investigation Commercial trucks have significant blind spots around the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle. Depending on the circumstances, investigators may examine: The truck’s speed before impact The pedestrian’s location and movement Whether the truck was turning or traveling straight The driver’s line of sight Lighting and visibility Whether the truck driver was distracted Dash-camera footage Nearby surveillance video Vehicle electronic data Witness statements Roadway markings and traffic controls None of these factors has yet been identified as the cause of this Lubbock collision. Semi-Truck Blind Spots May Be Important Evidence The fact that the pedestrian was struck by the cab of the semi may make visibility evidence particularly important. Investigators may need to determine whether the pedestrian entered an area where the driver had limited visibility or whether the driver had an opportunity to see and avoid the pedestrian before impact. Truck configuration, mirror placement, camera systems, lighting conditions, and the pedestrian’s location may all be relevant. Evidence a Truck Wreck Lawyer May Seek to Preserve Commercial truck cases can involve electronic and company evidence that may not exist in an ordinary pedestrian accident. Potentially important evidence may include: Forward-facing and cab-camera footage GPS and telematics records Electronic control module data Driver logs Dispatch communications Driver qualification and training records Cellphone records when legally relevant Truck inspection and maintenance records Traffic-camera footage Nearby business surveillance video Crash-scene photographs and measurements Witness statements Police investigative materials Video may be especially important in a pedestrian collision because it can establish the positions and movements of both the truck and pedestrian immediately before impact. Who May Be Responsible After a Commercial Truck Pedestrian Crash? Liability depends on what investigators ultimately determine. Depending on the facts, potentially responsible parties could include the truck driver, motor carrier, truck owner, another driver, or another company involved in operating the commercial vehicle. A motor carrier may also possess evidence concerning the driver’s training, work schedule, dispatch instructions, and operation of the truck. The ongoing police investigation has not yet determined civil responsibility. Serious Injuries After a Pedestrian Is Hit by an 18-Wheeler A pedestrian has virtually no physical protection when struck by a large commercial vehicle. These crashes can cause traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, spinal injuries, internal injuries, crush injuries, and other life-altering harm. In this case, Lubbock police reported that the pedestrian suffered serious injuries and was transported to UMC. How a Texas Truck Wreck Lawyer Can Investigate the Crash A serious commercial truck accident may require prompt action to preserve evidence before video or electronic information is overwritten. A truck accident lawyer may investigate the driver and motor carrier, obtain available electronic data, request dash-camera and surveillance footage, review driver and company records, locate witnesses, and identify 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 or Commercial Truck Crash in Texas? The Wooley Law Firm represents people injured in serious 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, pedestrian, and other commercial vehicle crashes throughout Texas. If you or a family member was injured in a collision involving a commercial truck, The Wooley Law Firm can investigate what happened, work to preserve available trucking 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 the Lubbock Police Department concerning an ongoing investigation. Police reported that a pedestrian suffered serious injuries after being struck by the cab of a semi-truck near East Rice Street and Magnolia Avenue. Additional facts 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.