One Dead, Four Injured in Crash with 18-Wheeler on TX-16 near Freer
Freer, TX — July 27, 2022, one person died and four were injured when a passenger vehicle crashed with a tractor-trailer on Highway 16 in Duval County.
According to reports the incident happened just after 2:00 p.m. on Highway 16 at Farm to Market Road 3395, north of Freer. The cause and circumstances of the wreck aren't yet known, but reports say a Lincoln passenger vehicle crashed with an 18-wheeler in the area. Later reports indicate the Lincoln may have been fleeing pursuit from law enforcement.
The Lincoln's driver was fatally injured in the crash. Two passengers were airlifted and two were taken by ambulance to area hospitals. The truck driver was unhurt.
The investigation continues. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Truck Accident on TX-16 near Freer
There isn't a lot of information yet about how exactly this crash happened or what started it. Until those answers and others are found, it's best not to jump to any conclusions.
To learn more about the wreck police still need to look into many of its potential factors: Possible driver mistakes like distraction or speeding, problems or defects in the vehicles, road conditions and design, visibility and sightlines, missing or unclear signage, inclement weather, other traffic in the area, and many other things that could have influenced the crash.
It's always important to consider all the variables during an investigation, and making assumptions before that's done is unwise. I've seen too many folks do that after reading a few sentences in the news only to wholly change their minds after more information came to light. The same could happen here, though a "by the book" police investigation also might not fully explain things by the time it concludes.
After a major accident--particularly one involving a commercial truck--an independent investigation better ensures the full story is learned. Whatever that story is, everyone involved and affected deserves all the answers they can get. Any other steps beyond just finding the truth depend on what that truth turns out to be.
