Quick Answer
Three people, including a 12-year-old girl, have died after an 18-wheeler left FM 485 near Hearne, rolled over and struck a tree. Texas DPS has not announced why the truck left the road.
Three people died Friday night after an 18-wheeler left a farm-to-market road in Robertson County and struck a tree. The youngest person killed was 12 years old.
Local news reported, citing Texas DPS, that the crash happened shortly after 9 p.m. Sept. 11 at FM 485 and Zane Wallace Road, just west of Hearne. The westbound semi veered onto the grass shoulder, rolled and hit a large tree.
A man and two passengers were killed. The passengers were identified as a 40-year-old woman from College Station, and a 12-year-old girl whose name was not released. The truck was hauling livestock. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
The Department of Public Safety have said the crash remains under investigation.
On This Page
- What happened in the Robertson County crash?
- A single-vehicle truck crash can have more than one cause
- Evidence that can explain why the truck left FM 485
- What the findings could mean for the families
- Frequently asked questions
- Talk to a Houston 18-wheeler accident lawyer
What happened in the Robertson County crash?
The available facts are limited. DPS says the 18-wheeler was traveling west on FM 485 when it went onto the grass shoulder, rolled over and struck a tree near Zane Wallace Road.
News reports do not say how fast the truck was moving, why it left its lane, whether the driver attempted a steering or braking maneuver, where the passengers were seated or whether anyone was wearing a seat belt. They also do not identify the motor carrier, the truck owner, the livestock owner or the relationship between the three occupants.
Those missing facts will provide insight into which party or parties may be responsible for the accident.
Truck crashes can have more than one cause
News outlets have described the crash as a “single vehicle” accident. This only means that no second vehicle collided with the truck, but does not provide any insight into why the driver lost control or who may bear legal responsibility for the crash.
An investigation into a rollover involving an 18-wheeler may consider things like:
- Driver fatigue, distraction, speed or a medical emergency
- A tire, brake, steering or suspension failure
- The weight and distribution of the livestock load
- A shift in the load before or during the rollover
- The condition and configuration of the tractor and livestock trailer
- The road’s curve, grade, shoulder, lighting and surface condition
- Weather, visibility and any object or animal in the roadway
None of those possibilities has been reported as a cause of this crash. Each is a subject that physical evidence and company records can either support or rule out.
Federal law requires covered motor carriers to systematically inspect, repair and maintain the vehicles under their control. 49 C.F.R. § 396.3 also requires records identifying the vehicle and documenting inspections, repairs and maintenance. Those records can show whether a safety problem was reported, whether a repair was delayed and who controlled the truck when the work should have been performed.
Evidence that can explain why the truck left FM 485
A DPS crash report is an important starting point, but it may not contain every record needed to evaluate a commercial operation. A complete investigation may require evidence held by the carrier, truck owner, maintenance provider and companies connected to the livestock shipment.
That evidence can include:
- Electronic control module data: Depending on the vehicle, the truck’s engine or event data may record speed, braking, throttle position and other information from the seconds before the impact.
- Electronic logging and time records: Logs, dispatch messages, fuel receipts and location data can show the driver’s work and rest periods.
- Phone, dashcam and GPS data: These records may help reconstruct the route, timing and activity inside or around the cab.
- Inspection and repair files: Pre-trip reports, maintenance histories, tire records and repair invoices can reveal a reported defect or recurring problem.
- Livestock and loading records: Bills of lading, weight records, loading instructions and communications may show who loaded the trailer and how the animals were distributed.
- Passenger records: Written authorizations, job assignments and company messages can explain why each passenger was aboard.
- Physical evidence: Tire marks, gouges, vehicle damage, seat-belt components, the shoulder and the tree-impact area may help reconstruct the rollover.
Some electronic data can be overwritten, and vehicles can be repaired or placed back into service. Formal preservation notices can require companies to retain relevant material while the investigation continues.
Texas also gives commercial motor carriers procedural protections in some lawsuits. As our guide to Chapter 72 and bifurcated truck-crash trials explains, evidence about a carrier’s own conduct may be separated from the first phase of trial. That makes it especially important to identify early which records relate directly to the crash and which support separate claims against a company.
What the findings could mean for the families
The passengers’ families may have strong liability claims if evidence shows that negligence by the driver, motor carrier, vehicle owner, maintenance provider or another party caused or contributed to their deaths. The driver’s surviving family could also have a claim if a company failure, unsafe equipment, improper loading or another outside act contributed to the crash.
Their case will depend on who employed or controlled the driver, who owned and maintained the equipment, what work the driver was performing and how each alleged failure contributed to the rollover.
Under Section 71.004 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, a Texas wrongful death action is for the benefit of a deceased person’s surviving spouse, children and parents. A separate survival action may allow the estate to pursue a personal injury claim the deceased person could have brought had the person lived.
However, not every fatal crash supports a wrongful death claim. The evidence has to connect a legally responsible person or company to the death. That is why the open DPS investigation and the carrier’s own records matter more than assumptions based on the first news report.
Frequently asked questions
Who was killed in the Robertson County 18-wheeler crash?
KBTX identified the people killed as Christopher Burton, 37, of Hempstead; Gina Jones, 40, of College Station; and a 12-year-old girl whose name was not released. The report says Jones and the child were passengers. All three were occupants of the semi.
Does a single-vehicle crash rule out a legal claim?
No. A single-vehicle crash may still involve an unsafe vehicle, inadequate maintenance, improper loading, unreasonable company demands, a roadway hazard or another contributing cause. A claim still requires evidence of negligence, causation and a responsible party.
Can passengers legally ride in an 18-wheeler?
Sometimes. Federal rules generally require written authorization from the motor carrier, but exceptions apply to assigned employees, people transported during emergencies and attendants delegated to care for livestock. The carrier’s operation and the reason for the passenger’s presence determine which rule applies.
Is the trucking company automatically liable for its driver?
No. A carrier may be responsible for a driver’s negligence within the scope of the driver’s work, or for its own acts involving hiring, supervision, maintenance or other safety duties. Liability depends on the working relationship, the carrier’s control and the cause of the crash.
Talk to a Houston 18-wheeler accident lawyer
The Robertson County crash took three lives, but the public record still does not explain why the truck left the road. A careful investigation should follow the evidence through the cab, tractor, trailer, livestock load and company records before reaching a conclusion.
The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian investigates commercial truck crashes throughout Houston and Texas. Hilda Sibrian has served the Houston community since 2004. We represent clients in Houston, Sugar Land, Missouri City, La Porte, Beaumont, Pasadena, The Woodlands, The Heights, Bellaire, Kingwood and Baytown.
Call our office today or use our online contact form to request a free consultation.
