One Injured in Milk Tanker Rollover on SE Loop 289 in Lubbock, TX
Lubbock, TX — December 27, 2022, one person was injured when a semi-truck with a tanker trailer overturned on Southeast Loop 289 in Lubbock.
Authorities say the incident happened around 3:15 p.m. on the 3600 block of Loop 289. Preliminary reports only say that a tanker truck hauling milk overturned in the area, though it's not clear how or why yet. Investigators confirmed that one person sustained moderate injuries in the crash.
The investigation continues. No further information is currently available.
When people read or hear about a big rig overturning like this, many tend to jump straight to blaming the truck's driver for making some kind of error. Fingers get pointed a distraction, falling asleep, or just losing control while speeding, all before the dust has even really settled at the crash scene.
It's true that driver mistakes are behind many solo crashes, but I also know from long experience that folks can be a little too eager to pin the blame on careless driving when there's actually more to the story. To be sure the whole truth is found investigators still need to look at other potential factors beyond the driver's control. If the truck lost traction on water or gravel, or if it had some kind of serious mechanical problem that sent it off-course, it wouldn't be fair to point fingers at the victim.
I'm not trying to overcomplicate things or suggest I know something reports don't say. I'm only pointing out that the right thing to do so soon after a crash is to keep an open mind and conduct a full investigation. Will police efforts alone really get to the bottom of how and why this happened?
