Charles Calahan Killed in 4-Vehicle Accident on TX-110 in Smith County
Smith County, TX — August 29, 2022, 94-year-old Charles Calahan died in a four-vehicle accident on State Highway 110 in Smith County.
According to reports the incident happened around 9:40 a.m. on TX-110 at Meador Cemetery Road, around half a mile south of Tyler. Preliminary investigation suggests Calahan was driving a Honda Civic west on Meador Cemetery when he stopped at the highway intersection, then started to turn left.
The Honda allegedly entered the path of a southbound Ford Explorer and the two collided. The impact spun the Honda into the northbound lanes where it crashed with a Chevy Suburban. After that it spun off the northbound roadway, hit some trees, and came to rest in the bar ditch.
After the collision with the Honda the Explorer ran off-course and crashed with a southbound Peterbilt tractor-trailer. The Ford, the Peterbilt, and the Chevy all came to rest in the roadway.
Calahan, reportedly wearing a seat belt, suffered fatal injuries in the wreck. The Ford and Chevy drivers received non-incapacitating injuries and the Peterbilt driver was unhurt.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Charles Calahan Accident in Smith County
People may read reports about this crash and see the catalyst as the victim's simple but tragic failure to yield, but before pinning everything to that and moving on it's important to investigate carefully and find out if there's more to the story. There could be many subtle elements involved that contributed to the crash or made it worse.
For example: Did the Honda have mechanical or brake problems? Was the driver in good health, or could a medical issue have made him start forward when he didn't mean to? Did something block his view of the approaching vehicles from either direction? Could bad weather or hazardous road conditions have been a factor? Is there a history of similar crashes in that area? Is signage missing or unclear? Could the oncoming drivers have done anything differently to avoid the collision? How fast were they traveling? Did everyone's safety features--seat belts, airbags, traction control--work properly at the time of impact?
I'm not trying to overcomplicate things or make accusations here. I just know from long experience that many crashes aren't as simple reductive news or police reports make them sound, so it's important to keep an open mind and be sure all the bases are well and truly covered. The victim deserves the benefit of the doubt while efforts are made to confirm the whole story. Will police be thorough enough to do that, or would an independent investigation stand a better chance of getting answers for everyone affected by this terrible incident?
