Patrick Purdon Killed in an Accident with a Semi-Truck on Interstate 20 in Reeves County, Texas

REEVES COUNTY, Texas — A construction worker was killed Wednesday afternoon when a semi-truck struck him in an active work zone along Interstate 20.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a 2005 Freightliner towing a trailer swerved to avoid slowing traffic near the construction area and hit a worker before reentering the roadway and continuing west. The driver did not stop following the collision, but officials said a construction zone supervisor later stopped the vehicle.

The victim, identified as 24-year-old Patrick Purdon of New Mexico, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver is facing a charge of failure to stop and render aid involving death. Further information has not yet been released.

The surviving families deserve answers, justice, and compensation

A construction worker died here senselessly, all because of negligent behavior. Driver error often causes these types of accidents, with fatigue, distraction, and speed at the top of the list.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates that commercial trucks stop at a safe distance (310 feet when running at 60 mph). Yet we continue to see these tragic incidents again and again.

We recently took on a case involving a devastating truck crash on Interstate 20 in Texas, where a Hino L6 truck failed to slow down and violently rear-ended a family’s vehicle, causing a chain reaction collision. The impact left the victims with severe injuries and lasting trauma.

This tragedy was entirely preventable. The truck driver failed to control their speed and react to stopped traffic, while the trucking company neglected to properly train their driver and ensure fleet safety. Additionally, the company that sold the truck allegedly failed to inform the trucking company about available collision avoidance technology that could have prevented this crash. Now, they are all trying to avoid accountability.

We are fighting to hold all responsible parties accountable for their negligence and to secure justice for the injured family. No one should suffer due to reckless driving and corporate failures to prioritize safety.

Change must happen. For the sake of someone who has tragically lost their life, leaving behind a grieving family, and for the workers who continue to labor under precarious conditions, we must act. This begins with holding those responsible fully accountable, including the truck driver, the trucking company, and anyone else found responsible.

May the grieving family here find the answers and support they need.

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The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in auto and truck accidents that result in serious injury or death.

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.