Courtney Jewell Killed in Texarkana, TX, 18-wheeler Accident
Texarkana, TX -- January 25, 2017, Courtney Jewell was killed following an accident in which her vehicle and an 18-wheeler collided on the highway.
The Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the fatal accident scene around 8:40 a.m. The crash occurred about a mile north of town along US Highway 71.
According to preliminary reports, 23-year-old Jewell was traveling northbound in the outside lane of the highway. In front of her was a Mack tractor-trailer. For reasons not yet made clear, her Honda car did not stop in time approaching the 18-wheeler, and it collided into the rear of the trailer.
As a result of the collision, Jewell suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. Two occupants from the 18-wheeler were not injured.
At this time, authorities have yet to indicate what factors contributed to the crash. They say their investigations are ongoing.
Map of the Area
Commentary
A lot of times, when someone reads an accident where a driver rear-ends a vehicle, they automatically assume the rear driver was the one at fault. The truth is that all accidents have a wide variety of possible factors that can cause a crash. Looking at an incomplete, preliminary accident report and passing judgement is irresponsible and only serves to further harm those affected by the crash.
I've seen plenty of accidents over the years where, on the surface, one driver appeared to be at fault. However, upon further investigation, it turned out that the other driver was at fault, both drivers were at fault, or even neither driver was at fault. There are many factors--such as product defects, road conditions, etc.--that are very subtle and can slip through the cracks during the early stages of an investigation. This leaves holes in the news stories that allow for people to fill in the blanks with their own assumptions.
My point here is not to exonerate all drivers of their actions. The fact of the matter is that rear-end accidents are often caused by the rear driver speeding, not paying attention to the road, or otherwise behaving negligently. However, we cannot assume that common answers apply to all cases. The best thing to do is ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted--most preferably by an independent professional outside the police--and all of the facts come to light. Only with all of the facts can anyone begin to draw conclusions in regards to what caused the accident.
--Grossman Law Offices
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