LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported a devastating accident that claimed the lives of two individuals on Sunday in Gaines County. Heinrich Wiebe-Knelsen, 44, and Danielle Paris, 48, both residents of Seminole, tragically succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
According to the DPS, the incident occurred when a car traveling eastbound on US-62 experienced a tire blowout. Subsequently, the vehicle veered uncontrollably across both eastbound lanes of US-62, ultimately colliding with a guardrail after entering the center median.
The DPS report indicated that weather conditions were clear at the time of the accident, and the road conditions were dry. However, it was revealed that neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt, exacerbating the severity of the incident.
Law enforcement agencies are actively investigating the crash to determine the precise sequence of events leading up to this tragic loss of life.
The tire will need to be inspected to determine why it failed
It is devastating to learn of another family that must suffer the sudden loss of a loved one due to a tire blowout. These accidents are far more common than most realize. Approximately 11,000 crashes occur each year because of tire failures, many resulting in serious injuries and death. Many of these accidents are completely outside the control of the driver.
Tire manufacturers must produce tires that wear out before they blow out. Tire repair and installation companies must remove tires from the roadway that are no longer safe. Unfortunately, many tire-related accidents occur when a tire manufacturer or a tire repair company fail to do their job. This crash will need to be investigated to determine what exactly caused this tire to fail.
Our firm handles tire blowout lawsuits for victims and their families nationwide and has found that our clients want to hold the companies responsible for their loved ones’ passing accountable. More importantly, they find comfort in knowing they can prevent other families from suffering the same loss by removing defective tires from our roadways.
We are handling many accidents similar to this one. In one current crash, our client’s son was returning home from work after a multi-week shift. The man and his cousin had just stopped for gas when they resumed their journey. As they were traveling, the rear tire of their Ford Explorer failed. The cousin could not control the SUV as it spun out of control and rolled over. Our client’s son was killed in the crash, leaving behind his mother, father, and siblings. When we investigated the crash, it became apparent that the tire was defective. We brought a lawsuit against the manufacturer to help the family offset the financial and emotional burden of losing a loved one and raise awareness of the defective tire.
In another similar crash, our clients were traveling as a family when the back tire on their truck failed at highway speeds. The father lost control of the truck, causing the vehicle to roll over. The mother and her newborn babe were killed in the crash. After investigating the crash, we determined the tire was defective, and we brought a lawsuit against the manufacturer for the father’s injuries and the death of the mother and child. This was an entirely preventable crash that left this family devastated.
These are only two in a long list of hundreds that we are currently handling or have handled over the years for victims of corporate wrongdoing. When manufacturers and repair companies fail to do their job and innocent lives are taken, the companies should be held accountable.
This tire should be inspected by trained professionals to determine why it failed. If it failed because of corporate wrongdoing of any kind, the family should be given this information and allowed to decide how they wish to move forward.
Until then, I offer my condolences to all involved and hope for their continued support from friends and family during this time of grief and mourning.
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The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation, with extensive experience in complex auto/tire defect and commercial vehicle cases.
Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice. Information contained in this blog was compiled from third-party sources or is the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if false or misleading information is contained in this post.
