Yomaris Gonzalez Rivera Injured in Truck Accident in China Grove, TX
China Grove, TX -- June 10, 2022, Yomaris Gonzalez Rivera was injured due to an accident where a truck crashed into Rivera's vehicle.
Investigators reported that the crash took place at around 1:00 p.m. along US Highway 87 at the intersection of FM 1516.
According to officials, 42-year-old Yomaris Gonzalez Rivera was in a Toyota Scion traveling along westbound lanes of US 87. While waiting at a red light, a semi-truck reportedly crashed into the back of Rivera.
Rivera was said to have incapacitating injuries due to the crash. No other injuries were reported. At this time, authorities say the light had just turned green, and the truck driver said that they thought Rivera "was going to proceed." Additional details are unavailable at this time.
Commentary on Yomaris Gonzalez Rivera Truck Accident in China Grove
Reading the apparent statements from the truck driver, it doesn't surprise me that authorities suggested distracted driving could be a factor here. Let's say, for example, that the light turned green long enough that the victim should have proceeded forward. If a reasonable driver is approaching someone at a green light who isn't moving, which is more reasonable: slow down until that person starts to go forward, go around them, or simply continue forward without slowing down assuming they'll start to move before you hit them? Well, I can at least confidently say which is the least reasonable, in my experience.
But just hashing that out is only part of the larger picture. Making sure to find out why a collision happened is crucial if folks are going to get the help they need and ensure the right people are held accountable for their actions.
I'll give an example of how a crash like this can present unique challenges. A while back, I handled a situation in which a truck driver was texting and driving, resulting in a serious collision. As open-and-shut as that seemed, we made sure to keep digging so the family could move forward with as much information as possible. What we found was that the truck driver, while still ultimately in the wrong, only behaved recklessly because he was more or less forced to do so.
This driver's supervisor would constantly call and text drivers all day, micromanaging their every move. If the drivers didn't respond immediately, they'd get in trouble and risked losing their livelihoods. That supervisor didn't care about silly excuses like, "I was driving," or "I was in a school zone." All he cared about was doing things his way.
In a situation like that, it's just a matter of time before someone gets hurt. Again, that doesn't excuse a driver's mistake, but it shows there are more serious issues that, if left unchecked, could continue putting lives at risk.
Put simply, helping people after a serious truck wreck is always a priority. But the hundreds of victims and families I've helped throughout the years also wanted something else: accountability. They wanted to be sure that those responsible for their hardships were facing the appropriate consequences of their actions. Whoever that may be here, it takes extensive evidence to bring that information to light.
[jump]
