SAN ANTONIO, Texas — One person was killed Thursday morning after an SUV collided with the rear of a parked 18-wheeler on Interstate 35 in San Antonio. The incident happened near West Southcross Boulevard.
According to authorities, a 2018 GMC Acadia traveled onto the right shoulder and struck the rear of an 18-wheeler that was parked along the shoulder. The driver of the GMC died at the scene.
Police said the tractor-trailer was parked on the shoulder but relatively close to the travel lanes and do not know why the semi-truck was stopped at that location.
Public Roadways Are Not Where Trucks Should Be Parked or Stopped
This is a heartbreaking tragedy, and our thoughts are with the family mourning the loss of their loved one. I know right now all eyes will be on the passenger vehicle driver. But these cases are often more complicated than they appear. Having handled cases like this one for years, I have an additional concern: What was a semi-truck doing parked on the shoulder of Interstate 35?
The reason matters. A commercial truck stopped on the shoulder may appear to be there for a legitimate reason, but that is not always the case. Looking beyond the initial facts can reveal whether the truck should have been there in the first place and whether earlier decisions contributed to what happened.
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 who was responsible for the accident.
In that 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 forced 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.
There are still many unanswered questions about this incident. Why was the 18-wheeler parked on the shoulder? Was it there because of a legitimate emergency, or could the situation have been prevented? Did the location of the truck create a hazard for approaching motorists? The surviving family deserves answers and accountability.
May all the facts surrounding this incident come to light soon.
*******
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.
