David Wade-Cornell Cheek Injured in Truck Accident in Godley, TX
Godley, TX -- January 30, 2023, David Wade-Cornell Cheek was injured due to an accident where an 18-wheeler crashed into his vehicle.
Investigators said that the accident happened at around 5:24 a.m. along Highway 171 in the area of County Road 1000.
According to initial details, 35-year-old David Cheek was in a Ford Mustang traveling northbound along Highway 171. From the oncoming lane, it appears an 18-wheeler somehow went over the center line and sideswiped Cheek's vehicle.
Due to the collision, Cheek had injuries said to be incapacitating. No other injuries were reported. While authorities did not report any witness statements, one thing they did mention was the truck driver saying they were distracted because they thought they saw a body lying in the ditch. Now, I don't want to come off like I know more about this crash than anyone else in the public. All I know is what's been released above. But with a claim like that, I can't help wondering what the evidence actually shows.
Considering authorities made no mention of any bodies lying in a ditch, the possibilities seem to be that the truck driver somehow mistook something they saw for a body or that, quite frankly, they're being dishonest about what really happened. People make mistakes, and it would not be the first time an unexpected distraction made someone lose control of their truck. I've seen plenty of truck drivers admit to those kinds of mistakes even if their employers would rather them avoid being responsible. However, I've seen many other drivers try to paint themselves in the best light possible after a crash, even if that means bending or outright hiding the truth.
With all of that said, a concerning distraction or not, there are few situations in which a driver causes a crash after looking at something on the side of the road where they couldn't avoid the collision. That alone is almost always avoidable. But I still think police aren't being clear on the claims made by the truck driver, whether or not there's evidence to support those claims, and what their findings could mean for the victim and his loved ones going forward. Hopefully they've done more behind the scenes to ensure those involved here know a heck of a lot more than what's in these early accounts.
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