Jamie Amon Killed, One Injured in Crash with 18-Wheeler on Business 380 in Wise County, TX
Decatur, TX — November 10, 2022, 47-year-old Jamie Amon died in a collision with a tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 380 Business in Wise County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 7:15 p.m. on westbound Business 380. Preliminary investigation suggests a Freightliner semi-truck was towing a trailer east on the highway when it may have encountered another truck in its lane. The truck driver then began a U-turn through the cut-through and entered westbound Business 380; reports say he failed to yield to a westbound Toyota 4Runner driven by Amon. The SUV crashed into the semi-trailer and became lodged underneath it.
Amon was fatally injured in the collision. A passenger in the Toyota suffered incapacitating injuries. The truck driver was unhurt.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Jamie Amon Accident in Decatur
If preliminary reports have their facts straight it seems like the truck driver's failure to yield to thru-traffic was a key element in the tragic crash that followed. Some may feel that would mean he and his employer would have little choice but to accept responsibility for the victims' injuries and try to make things right.
I understand how that seems reasonable, but I've cautioned countless people over the years that commercial truck accidents are rarely that straightforward. It's the default position of just about every company to deny, dispute, and deflect liability as hard as it can. They argue with police findings, accuse the victims of speeding or inattention, and send out their own investigators to find whatever they can use to redirect blame, and that's just a handful of the many tricks up their sleeves.
I don't say any of that from cynicism, but rather years of experience. In decades of working commercial truck accidents I've encountered just one company that took responsibility with no foot-dragging or arm-twisting. All the rest refused to admit their employees did wrong without a long and difficult battle--one victims shouldn't have to face alone.
