Jocelyn Ortega Killed, Two Injured by Semi-Truck on I-45 in Centerville, TX
Centerville, TX — June 6, 2022, 27-year-old Jocelyn Ortega died and two firefighters were injured when a semi-truck crashed into an accident scene on I-45 in Centerville.
Authorities say the incident happened Monday afternoon along I-45 in Leon County. Preliminary investigation suggests a Centerville Volunteer fire crew was assisting with a minor crash near Leona when an 18-wheeler smashed into the scene.
After the impact the truck rolled on top of one vehicle involved in the first crash. A woman in that vehicle, Jocelyn Ortega, suffered fatal injuries. Two Centerville firefights, Colton Adams and Clint Franklin, were airlifted to area hospitals. Adams' injuries were said to be serious but Franklin was treated and released the same day.
The accidents remain under investigation. No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Truck Accident on I-45 in Centerville
The way this crash is described it's a little hard to see a way the truck driver did nothing wrong. An active crash scene with multiple responding agencies including state troopers and a whole fire crew means there would be emergency vehicles--at least one of them likely a full-size fire engine--at the scene in broad daylight. That's about as visible as something gets without a neon billboard next to it. So what gives? Why did the truck hit the crash scene?
That's best answered by further investigation. Sure we could speculate about driver distraction or the truck's brakes failing, but making guesses isn't particularly helpful compared to rounding up clear evidence. Moreover, a careful analysis of the crash is probably best to make sure only clear facts ultimately tell the story. That gets rid of some opportunity for "creative" interpretations of what happened should the trucking company try to defend its driver and itself down the road.
I'm not claiming to know exactly how things went here, but someone lost her life and two of Centerville's Bravest were hurt in what sounds a lot like an avoidable accident. If that's right then someone should answer for the damage done, but ensuring they do so will likely take a great deal more work.
