Jeremy Thomas Killed in an Accident Involving a Parked 18-Wheeler on Interstate 10 in Rayne, Louisiana

RAYNE, La. – A Rayne man was killed Sunday morning after his pickup truck collided with a parked 18-wheeler along Interstate 10, according to the Rayne Police Department. Authorities identified the victim as 38-year-old Jeremy Thomas of Rayne.

According to reports, Thomas was driving a 2022 Chevrolet pickup westbound near the Rayne exit when his vehicle struck the rear of a 2021 Volvo semi-truck that was stopped on the shoulder of the highway. The truck was hauling a white cargo trailer.

Police reported that the driver of the 18-wheeler was not at the scene when officers arrived and is currently being sought for questioning.

Public roadways are not where trucks should be parked

When we hear about crashes like this one, our first reaction may be to ask: Why was the SUV unable to avoid hitting the parked semi?

Accident reports often place blame on the driver who strikes a stationary semi-truck; however, in my experience, these cases require a closer investigation. The key question is whether the truck should have been stopped on the roadside at all. A semi-truck parked in the wrong place can create a serious and unexpected hazard—one that may have been entirely avoidable.

We recently represented a family whose loved one died after hitting a parked semi-truck. While authorities determined the deceased was responsible because he struck a stationary vehicle, our investigation determined that the truck should not have been there in the first place. When the grieving family reached out to us, we immediately focused on understanding why the truck driver had pulled over. We knew from experience that a truck driver’s reason for parking on the side of the road could reveal important details about responsibility for the accident.

In this case, the truck driver claimed he had pulled over due to a flat tire, which initially appeared to be a legitimate emergency. However, our investigation revealed that this “emergency” was entirely preventable. The tire had been under-inflated for months, gradually weakening its structure until failure was inevitable. This wasn’t a sudden emergency: it was the predictable result of the trucking company’s failure to maintain its vehicle properly. The company had ignored basic maintenance requirements, ultimately creating conditions that would force its driver to park in a dangerous location.

By investigating beyond the surface-level facts, we uncovered corporate negligence that contributed to this tragic loss of life. The family received not just compensation but answers about what really happened to their loved one.

The surviving family of Mr. Thomas deserves the same attention and to demand answers. Experienced truck attorneys who have handled similar cases can help the surviving family find the answers they need.

May all the facts come to light here.

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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.