Laura Rivera Killed in 18-Wheeler Accident on US-183 near Cuero, TX
Cuero, TX — January 21, 2023, 38-year-old Laura Yvette Rivera died in a collision with a tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 183 near Cuero.
Authorities say the incdient happened around 6:35 a.m. on US-183 just north of town. Preliminary investigation suggests Rivera was driving a Kia Sorento north on the highway as a Kenworth 18-wheeler was headed south nearby. Investigators say the truck drifted left of center into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with the Kia. After the impact both vehicles ran onto the east embankment and the SUV overturned.
Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was reportedly unhurt.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information is currently available.
People often read about accidents where the preliminary details seem so clear and fault seems so obvious that they assume there's little else to say. Take the incident near Cuero: If reports have their facts straight it seems a commercial truck crossed over the center line and triggered a devastating collision. In circumstances like that, how could the truck driver not be responsible for the damage done?
Reasonable as that may sound, commercial vehicle wrecks like this are rarely so straightforward. It may seem like the most likely explanation is the truck driver screwing up somehow, but even if that's true neither he nor his employer are required to automatically agree. That's why it's important to make sure a full investigation is conducted and all the possible factors of the crash are accounted for. It's always best to know the full story as told by clear evidence, but having the facts also means far less "wiggle room" for companies to deflect blame or suggest their own theories about what happened.
That's not said out of cynicism, but rather from years of experience. There's no such thing as an "easy" 18-wheeler case, as companies have a lot to lose in these situations and they'll try their hardest not to. That's why I do what I can to warn people of the potential obstacles they could face in the aftermath of crashes like the one near Cuero. Click blow to read more.
