ENCINAL, Texas- Authorities reported that a truck tire came loose from a semi-truck and struck a Ford Expedition, resulting in the death of 40-year-old Miguel Morales.
According to a preliminary investigation, the semi-truck’s left tires on axle 3 broke from the vehicle for unknown reasons. One tire rolled through the median and into the opposite lanes, ultimately crashing through the Expedition’s windshield.
Authorities reported that Miguel Morales was killed in the crash. No other injuries were reported.
The cause of the tires breaking loose was not immediately apparent as authorities continued investigating the crash.
No further information was immediately available.
Loose truck tires pose a serious risk of harm, and all potential wrongdoing must be accounted for
While we must wait for an independent investigation to be completed before we can form a firm conclusion, the facts we have will allow us to begin formulating a legal strategy that could hopefully provide Mr. Morales’ loved ones with the answers they deserve and opportunities to seek legal recourse against those responsible for Mr. Morales’ death. This accident is different from a lot of crashes involving semi-trucks because the cause of the tires breaking loose may have been outside the control of the driver and even the trucking company. Because of this, an independent investigation must be conducted to determine who is ultimately responsible for such a preventable accident.
We do know from the preliminary investigation that axle three on the semi-truck broke loose. This can happen for several reasons, but the most common cause we see is that the wheels are not properly attached to the axle. We would want to identify if this was a new truck or an older model. A newer truck may not have had maintenance conducted on the axles yet, suggesting this may have been caused by a defective part. Alternatively, and more likely, this was an older model truck that did not receive proper repair and maintenance. If an investigation reveals that these tires were serviced by an independent company, that company’s actions must be investigated to determine why they failed to properly secure these tires. Regardless of the reason, it is clear the job was performed negligently, and they would need to be held responsible for such actions.
It is also possible that the tires were simply neglected and never received proper maintenance. Trucking companies and drivers have a responsibility to maintain their trucks to prevent accidents like this from happening. If an independent investigation reveals that this company and driver did not follow routine maintenance procedures, they must be held responsible for such actions.
With the limited information currently available, we cannot determine who needs to account for this death. However, it is clear that the Morales family needs to know what happened and provided an opportunity to hold the wrongdoers accountable for their actions. The law provides this remedy to them, and our firm can help see that it is done properly.
Until then, we extend our deepest condolences to the Morales family and pray for their comfort during this difficult time.
