Julio Arellano Injured in Truck Accident on FM 181 in Andrews County, TX
UPDATE (February 22, 2023): Authorities identified the Hermleigh man as 56-year-old Julio Arellano. No further information about the crash can be confirmed right now.
Andrews County, TX -- January 17, 2023, a Hermleigh man was injured after an accident where his vehicle crashed with a commercial truck.
Authorities said that the crash happened at around 7:17 p.m. along FM 181 just off Highway 115.
Their details said that a 56-year-old Hermleigh man was in a pickup traveling northbound along FM 181. From oncoming lanes, it appears an 18-wheeler pulled to the left in order to make a u-turn. Details suggest the truck then became stuck. While blocking lanes, the pickup crashed into the trailer.
The Hermleigh man had injuries said to be incapacitating. It's unclear if there were other injuries. Additional details about the crash cannot be confirmed at this time.
To be rather blunt, I can't recall a time I looked into something like this where the crash happened for a reason other than a truck driver's negligence. Put simply, I've known many experienced truckers and worked with reputable companies throughout my career. Those drivers would never do something like this, and their employers would probably fire them for even attempting it.
The fact of the matter is 18-wheelers are inherently dangerous, and that's why the hard-working truckers that keep this country moving would agree that a truck driver who blocks lanes while making a u-turn (while it's dark out, no less) and becomes stuck likely doesn't belong behind the wheel.
Is this one of those times? Is this a truck driver that couldn't bother finding a safe place to turn around? Do they work for a company that forces drivers to engage in reckless behavior? Have they been involved in other similar incidents? My hope is authorities have already started looking into those questions to ensure nothing that led to this man's injuries goes unaddressed.
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