One person was tragically killed last night and another injured when an 18-wheeler and an SUV collided in a fatal wreck on U.S. 59 just south of Victoria, Texas.
Driver of Passenger Vehicle Tragically Killed
The deadly accident occurred on December 11, around 6:45 p.m. in the evening, on the northbound side of U.S. 59 near Fox Road.
Both the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office and the Victoria Fire Department responded at the scene, finding the 18-wheeler positioned across the median, its front-end near southbound traffic. The passenger vehicle was reportedly lodged in near the trailer.
Sadly, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the accident claimed the life of the female driver in the SUV. Another passenger was injured, but more information was not available as to their current condition, per the Victoria Advocate.
The driver of the 18-wheeler was not injured.
Yesterday’s deadly crash remains under investigation and many details remain unknown at this time.
If you have been in a trucking accident in Texas, contact our Houston truck accident injury lawyers today.
Fatal Truck Accidents Continue to Rise in Texas
A fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. When traveling 55 miles per hour, these trucks require about 50% more stopping distance than a standard passenger car.
Deadly truck and 18-wheeler accidents have been trending higher across the country for several years. However, according to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Texas has led the nation in trucking-related fatalities every year since 2017.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and other commercial vehicles were involved in more than 38,621 collisions along the roads and highways of Texas in 2022, including 612 deadly accidents that left 716 people dead.
The state is home to four of the most dangerous highways and even more of the deadliest roads in the United States, U.S. 59 among them. While catastrophic truck accidents are more likely to occur in hotspots near our major cities and oil fields, the small South Texas area of Victoria County still saw 61 total crashes involving trucks and other commercial vehicles last year, including nine that led to serious injuries and one that proved fatal.
Shockingly, the big rigs on our roads are not required to use modern crash avoidance technology, such as speed-limiters, automatic emergency brakes, or side underride guards that could prevent tens of thousands of truck accidents per year and hundreds of fatalities. Stronger federal trucking regulations may soon be on the way, but currently we are experiencing what many believe is a truck crash fatality crisis we have not witnessed in generations.
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Our Undefeated Texas 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers will post an update if new information becomes available.
Having won Billions — including Record-Breaking Verdicts and Settlements — for thousands of crash victims throughout Texas and across the United States, our Experienced Texas Truck Accident Attorneys have the resources and knowledge to take on the largest trucking and transportation companies in the world and ensure our clients receive the maximum compensation possible for all of their injuries and losses.