Ashley Marie McPike Injured in Semi-Truck Accident in Trinity County, TX
Trinity County, TX — January 9, 2023, Ashley McPike was injured due to a commercial truck accident that happened at 5:27 a.m. on Highway 94.
According to details released by officials, the accident happened near mile marker 718 about 10 miles northeast of Groveton.
Investigators said that 29-year-old Ashley McPike was in a Kia Soul traveling eastbound along the highway. Up ahead, authorities say that an oncoming tractor-trailer made a left turn, and in doing so, it failed to yield to McPike. McPike's vehicle crashed into the trailer. After the collision, the semi-truck allegedly drove away from the scene.
McPike sustained injuries which were reportedly incapacitating. There did not appear to be any other injuries. Authorities said that they were able to identify the driver through the driver's company, and they also say there is video footage from the truck. Charges may be pending as investigations are ongoing. I have yet to see statements on just how exactly the driver was identified through their company and how long after the crash that information came to light.
Despite what some people may think, there are trucking companies out there with ownership and management who will do the right thing when it counts. Some will learn of a driver's actions and immediately inform whatever authorities necessary to cooperate with the investigations and own up to their obligations.
Other times, however, trucking companies cooperate only to the extent they're forced to. For example, I handled a truck wreck case where authorities were able to speak with representatives from the company immediately after a serious crash. But the reason the reps were there so soon was because the company flew their lawyers to the scene in a helicopter to coach the driver on what to say. They were only eager to speak with authorities because they wanted to get ahead of things and tilt the scales in their favor.
Right now, there isn't enough information to say what all happened here, but it's not often authorities credit a driver's employer as being part of their steps to resolving an alleged hit-and-run. It raises concerns of whether the reported cooperation of the driver's employer was done in good faith by a company doing the right thing or rather a strategic move with ulterior motives.
