Michael Mitchell Injured in Crash with Parked 18-Wheeler on I-10 in Guadalupe County, TX
Guadalupe County, TX — November 15, 2022, 47-year-old Michael Mitchell was injured in a crash with a parked 18-wheeler on Interstate 10 in Guadalupe County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 1:40 p.m. on I-10 near mile marker 623. Preliminary investigation suggests Mitchell was driving a Toyota Tacoma with an attached trailer west on the highway when he may have lost control for unknown reasons. The pickup drifted onto the shoulder and crashed into the trailer of a Volvo semi-truck that was parked on the roadside.
Mitchell suffered serious injuries in the collision. The Volvo driver was unhurt.
No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Michael Mitchell Accident in Guadalupe County
It's obviously concerning to see any vehicle hit another one on the shoulder, but these situations aren't always as clear-cut as people might think. The investigation may largely focus on why and how the pickup ran off the road, but there are other important details to learn as well. For instance, investigators must find out if the big rig on the shoulder was parked legally.
Truck drivers are required to follow specific federal guidelines when stopping on or by highways. Failing to follow those rules can have serious consequences, yet many commercial drivers regularly roll those dice when they need rest or lunch breaks and don't seek out safer places to stop.
I'm not accusing the Guadalupe County truck driver of wrongdoing; obviously more thorough investigations are still needed to say what exactly happened here. It's just important to realize that few accidents--perhaps least of all those with commercial vehicles--are really as simple as a few sentences in a report make them sound. Folks should learn about their possible factors and refrain from jumping to any conclusions before facts and evidence can tell the whole story.
