Undefeated Texas Truck Accident Lawyers
Five people were tragically killed early Tuesday morning when a Freightliner 18-wheeler crashed into three stopped vehicles on Highway 57 in Zavala County, Texas.
18-Wheeler Driver Loses Control on Black Ice
The deadly La Pryor truck accident occurred shortly after 12:40 a.m. near Farm-to-Market 117 in Zavala County — hours into a winter storm that pelted the region with icy rain.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS), the chain of events began with a minor rear-end collision between two Ford vans towing trailers on a bridge over the Nueces River. A pickup truck stopped behind the vans due to the crash, and passengers exited their vehicles to assess the situation.
Moments later, several passengers who’d exited the vans tried to alert an 18-wheeler approaching from the west to stop. Though the driver attempted to avoid the crash by traveling in the middle of the road, he lost control as his big rig hit black ice on the bridge, striking the three-vehicles.
Traffic was diverted at FM 117 and Highway 57 to Uvalde in the wake of the accident.
7 Hospitalized Following Deadly La Pryor Crash
The impact killed 60-year-old Maria Pineda of Lawrenceville, Georgia, the driver of one of the vans.
Four more were found dead at the bottom of the bridge, per officials, including three van passengers from Dallas: Pedro Urquiza, 63; Estanislao Jaimes, 60; and Diana Lopez, 43. The driver of the pickup, Jose Artemio Rodriguez, 48, of Fort Worth was also found dead.
Paramedics transported seven other people to nearby Uvalde for medical treatment. Authorities have not identified any of those victims or commented on the nature of their injuries. It’s also unknown if any remain hospitalized. The truck driver refused medical treatment at the scene.
An investigation is now underway to determine whether those found below the bridge had been killed by the truck’s impact or from falling or jumping to avoid being hit.
Large Trucks and Icy Conditions
The La Pryor truck crash is the deadliest incident reported across the Gulf Coast as a historic winter storm has moved across the South, blanketing roads and highways with dangerous snow and icy conditions.
Though winter conditions can compromise the traction of any vehicle, they pose an even greater threat when it comes to semi-trucks, which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds—20 times more than the average car — and require twice the distance as a car to stop.
Black ice, in particular, is a deadly and invisible hazard that can cause even experienced truck drivers to lose traction unexpectedly. Combined with the weight and size of semi-trucks, this can lead to devastating jackknife accidents and rollovers.
Additionally, bridges and overpasses ice over much faster than regular road surfaces. And because 18-wheelers require more time and distance to stop, hitting a patch of ice on a bridge often results in a catastrophic loss of control.
Undefeated Texas Truck Accident Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 for a Free Consultation
Our Undefeated 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers are monitoring developments related to the deadly La Pryor 18-wheeler crash on Highway 57 and will provide updates as new details emerge. With billions won and decades of experience, Zehl & Associates has a proven track record of securing the largest verdicts and settlements in Texas history. We don’t just win for our clients, we ensure they receive the maximum compensation possible for all their injuries and losses.
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.
All consultations are free, and because we work on a contingency fee basis, you’ll owe us nothing unless we win your case.