One Injured in Truck Accident on State Highway 36 in Burleson County, TX
Burleson County, TX — December 15, 2022, one person was seriously injured in a multi-vehicle accident on State Highway 36 in Burleson County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 6:15 p.m. on SH 36 near Farm to Market Road 60. Preliminary investigation suggests a Chevy pickup turned left from the highway toward FM 60 but the driver allegedly failed to yield. As the Chevy passed through the oncoming lane it was T-boned by an 18-wheeler. A second pickup and 18-wheeler were hit by debris from the collision.
The Chevy driver was airlifted from the scene to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries. No other injuries were reported.
The investigation continues. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Burleson County Truck Accident on SH 36
Preliminary information suggests the victim of this accident failed to yield while turning. While I have no specific reason to question that, I've learned over the years that first impressions at the scene hardly constitute ironclad proof of what happened. There could be many other contributing factors here that police didn't (or won't) account for, which is why it's crucial to see if there's more to the story.
For instance: Did the Chevy have mechanical or brake problems? Could the victim see the approaching big rig? If not, why not? How fast was the semi-truck traveling? Was its driver awake, alert, and paying attention to the road? Is there any signage at the intersection, and was it clearly visible? What were weather and road conditions like? Is there a history of similar crashes in that area? Is the crossing designed poorly?
I'm not trying to overcomplicate things here, but unusual details are often overlooked during a "by the book" preliminary investigation. For example, in a recent West Texas wreck people spent weeks believing the victim ran a stop sign and fatally crashed with an 18-wheeler. Accident reconstructionists later found the intersection didn't even have signs at the time because road crews removed them during construction. How can anyone run a stop sign that isn't even there?
I'm not saying that happened in Burleson County, but many wrecks aren't as simple as they appear and it's important not to let anything slip through the cracks. Are police efforts alone enough to keep that from happening?
