Teen Killed, Konnor Taylor Injured in Truck Accident on SH 103 in Lufkin, TX
Lufkin, TX — January 4, 2023, a 15-year-old died and 20-year-old Konnor Taylor was injured in a crash with a tractor-trailer on Texas 103 in Lufkin.
Authorities say the incident happened around 8:45 p.m. at Highway 103 and Crain Avenue. Preliminary investigation suggests a Kenworth semi-truck was northbound on Crain when the driver started to turn east onto the highway. He allegedly failed to yield to a westbound Chevy Colorado driven by Taylor and the trucks collided in the roadway.
The Chevy's teen passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Taylor was taken to an area hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries and the Kenworth driver was unhurt.
The investigation continues. No further information is currently available.
If early reports have their details straight it seems like a truck driver failed to yield and blocked the highway. Further investigation is needed to figure out precisely why that happened, but barring something unusual being found some may feel fault is pretty clear in those circumstances.
Reasonable as that may sound, though, almost no commercial truck accident is that simple. The unfortunate truth is that trucking companies rarely if ever accept liability right away when their employees cause harm. They have many tactics and strategies to help them avoid taking responsibility—no matter how the news or police reports portray a wreck—and their will to defend themselves shouldn't be underestimated.
All that may sound cynical, but it just comes from long experience. In all my years of dealing with truck accidents I've encountered just one firm that acknowledged fault and tried to make things right without a long battle. That's why I try to inform people about the challenges they might face after a truck accident; click below to learn more.
