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A Lorena woman died tragically Tuesday morning when an 18-wheeler triggered a fiery chain-reaction crash in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 in Hewitt, Texas.
18-Wheeler Driver Failed to Control Speed
The deadly Hewitt 18-wheeler accident occurred shortly before 6:00 a.m. at mile marker 326, near Old Temple Road in McLennan County.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, traffic along that stretch of I-35 had slowed for a construction crew. Unfortunately, the driver of the 18-wheeler failed to control its speed and collided with nearby vehicles, including six passenger vehicles and two other semi-trucks.
Traffic was diverted to the service road in the wake of the accident. The section of the interstate where the crash occurred finally reopened around 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
6 Hospitalized After Hewitt 18-Wheeler Crash
The 39-year-old Lorena woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Paramedics transported six other people to Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Waco. Authorities have not identified any of those victims or commented on the nature of their injuries. It’s also not clear if any remain hospitalized.
The Texas Department of Transportation is investigating the Hewitt 18-wheeler accident.
Large Trucks and Chain-Reaction Crashes
Fully loaded, a large commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds—about 20 times heavier than the average car. As demonstrated by the Hewitt 18-wheeler accident, this immense weight makes it difficult for a big rig to stop quickly or react to changes in traffic, like sudden slow-downs or a vehicle braking unexpectedly.
Even at moderate speeds, an 18-wheeler’s stopping distance is significantly longer than required by passenger vehicles, creating a higher risk of an accident, including rear-end and chain-reaction crashes. Unlike passenger cars, big rigs also can’t make quick turns or easily dodge obstacles. This lack of agility can lead to catastrophic events like jackknifing or rollovers, which often block multiple lanes of traffic and involve numerous vehicles. Add in blind spots—those large “no-zones” around a truck where the driver can’t see—and the risk of collisions during lane changes or merges increases substantially.
When an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, or tractor-trailer is traveling at highway speeds crashes, its momentum can propel it forward with devastating force, even after the initial impact. Smaller vehicles may be pushed into one another, creating a domino effect of collisions. In many cases, the force of a single truck can involve vehicles far beyond the initial point of impact, turning a single collision into a chain-reaction accident that ensnares any vehicle in the vicinity.
In a construction zone or other situation where vehicles are already traveling close together, it only takes one misstep—like a truck driver braking too late or swerving suddenly—to trigger a catastrophic crash capable of causing multiple severe and fatal injuries.
Contact Our Undefeated Texas 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here
With billions won for thousands of crash victims in Texas and across the United States and a proven track record of securing some of the largest verdicts and settlements in Texas history, our Undefeated 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers have the knowledge and resources to successfully take on the largest trucking companies in the world and ensure our clients receive the maximum compensation for all their injuries and losses.
We are monitoring developments related to the deadly Hewitt chain-reaction crash on I-35 and will provide updates as new details emerge.
If you or a loved one were injured in a Texas 18-wheeler accident, call us for a free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us page.
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