One Injured in Crash with 18-Wheeler on US-181 in Poth, TX
Poth, TX -- May 19, 2022, at least one person was injured in a crash involving a tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 181 in Poth.
Authorities say the incident happened around 12:40 p.m. on US-181 at Westmeyer Street. Preliminary investigation suggests an 18-wheeler was crossing through the intersection when a southbound Will Call Services truck hit its trailer. Investigators believe the Will Call driver disregarded the traffic light at the time. The impact drove the front of the smaller truck underneath the semi-trailer and its driver was entrapped.
Responders extricated the victim and he was airlifted to a San Antonio hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Truck Accident on US-181 in Poth
After a serious truck wreck like this, it's important there are thorough investigations so the evidence can speak for itself. I have no particular reason to doubt what reports say happened, but it's best to take initial details with a grain of salt until they can be verified. For example, authorities say the victim ran a red light. That certainly happens from time to time, but it's important to note the victim may have been too busy being injured to tell his side of the story. Things can get complicated in situations like that.
For example, I handled a situation not long ago in which police blamed a driver for crossing the center line and hitting an 18-wheeler head-on. When we looked into things, though, we found that police really only spoke with the surviving truck driver, and that was that. When we actually dug into the evidence in an independent investigation, however, the evidence showed that the 18-wheeler actually crossed the center line first. This caused the victim to swerve left, trying to avoid the truck, and the truck then veered back into its original lane where the collision occurred.
I tell that story only to illustrate that things aren't always how they first appear. I'm not pointing fingers at the truck driver in Poth or saying I know more than investigators. I'm just explaining why I work with independent accident reconstructionists rather than relying on police reports alone. These early reports rarely tell the whole story, and sometimes it turns out authorities missed something crucial. Maybe further investigations would only confirm what they think here, but I'm sure the victim would appreciate the benefit of the doubt until clear evidence can tell the whole tale.
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