Wharton, TX — September 6, 2024, Bruce Edwards was killed and Jamaal Edwards was injured after a semi-truck accident at around 11:10 p.m. along U.S. 59.

According to initial details about the accident, it happened along U.S. Highway 59 in the area of F.M. 1161.

Investigators said that 73-year-old Bruce Edwards and 36-year-old Jamaal Edwards were outside of a semi-truck disabled along the shoulder of the highway. While there, an approaching Freightliner truck somehow drifted to the right, then crashed into the side of the disabled semi, hitting Bruce and Jamaal Edwards. As a result, Bruce Edwards was killed. Jamaal Edwards was injured.

Right now, it's unclear if any charges are being considered. Frankly, there aren't many reasons a truck can crash into someone on the shoulder without doing something wrong. Maybe this is some unusual, unavoidable crash—I wouldn't rule anything out without clear evidence. But even in the more likely even a mistake led to this crash, it's important to understand why that mistake happened.

For example, any experienced commercial vehicle driver can attest to the fact employers can make serious accidents more likely through their own behavior. I recall a case from not long ago which involved a truck driver who had been behind the wheel for over 20 hours straight. Through independent investigations, we discovered a pattern of behavior where the driver's employer expected drivers to meet ludicrous deadlines. If drivers cut corners, sped, skipped breaks, and neglected maintenance to meet the deadlines, they were rewarded. If they took the time to be safe drivers, they were passed over for new jobs, essentially threatening their livelihood. It was inevitable someone was going to get hurt.

Again, maybe that isn't what happened here. But if anyone knows just how complex a commercial truck wreck can be, it's a responsible commercial vehicle driver. That's why there has to be thorough independent investigations into the events leading up to this collision, whether or not it was foreseeable, and who may have failed to prevent it. Only by getting clear evidence can there be an adequate resolution for those involved here.