Amil Suljic Killed in Truck Accident on US-287 in Armstrong County, TX
Armstrong County, TX — January 1, 2023, 58-year-old Amil Suljic died in a crash between tractor-trailers on U.S. Highway 287 in Armstrong County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 1:05 p.m. on US-287 near County Road 25 outside Claude. Preliminary investigation suggests Suljic was driving a Volvo tractor-trailer east on the highway some distance behind a Peterbilt big rig driven by 32-year-old Jose Sanchez.
Sanchez allegedly slowed the Peterbilt to make a right turn onto CR 25; investigators allege Suljic failed to control his speed on approach and rear-ended the Peterbilt's trailer.
Suljic was pronounced dead at the scene. Sanchez was reportedly unhurt.
The accident remains under investigation. No further information is currently available.
One thing I run into far too often is the misunderstanding that preliminary accident reports from police or the news actually contain everything there is to know. For instance, in the wreck near Claude some folks may see that one truck rear-ended another and think there's little else to say about its sad outcome. However, so far no one can say exactly why things went that way—and that's crucial information.
I read the same reports as everyone else, but long experience has taught me that the early ones leave many blanks unfilled and questions unanswered. A crash caused by driver mistakes like inattention or following too closely might look the same as one caused by truck malfunctions or loss of traction on a wet road (or a dozen other possible explanations), but those situations are clearly very different from one another.
That's why it's important to investigate carefully and let only facts and evidence ultimately tell the whole story. The people trying to learn exactly how they lost a loved one in Armstrong County deserve no less, so I hope authorities and maybe even the companies behind those trucks get it for them.
