Salado, TX — August 3, 2025, Dallas resident Robert Martin was killed in a truck accident at about 3:25 a.m. on Interstate 35.

Authorities said a 2020 Toyota RAV4 was traveling north when it hit a deer, leaving the vehicle disabled in the center lane. A northbound delivery truck knocked the Toyota over the median barrier into the southbound lanes, where it was hit by a 2015 GMC SUV.

Toyota driver Robert Martin, 24, of Dallas was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

The other two drivers were not hurt, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Bell County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a crash like this, they naturally want to know: How does a car hitting a deer end in a fatal multi-vehicle collision? And what role, if any, did the truck driver play in making a bad situation worse? At first glance, it sounds like a freak chain of events, but real investigation is needed to determine whether this was truly unavoidable, or whether it reflects a failure somewhere along the line.

The key turning point here is what happened after the Toyota hit the deer and became disabled in the center lane. We’re told a delivery truck came along and struck the disabled vehicle, pushing it over the median and into oncoming traffic. But that part of the story raises more questions than it answers. Was the Toyota visible to the truck driver in time to react? Was the driver distracted or speeding? Did they make any attempt to brake or steer away? None of that has been made public, and until it is, it’s impossible to say whether the crash was just bad luck or something preventable.

From experience, I can say these aren’t just hypothetical questions. They’re things that can be answered through proper investigation. For example, the truck’s engine control module (ECM) can show how fast it was going and whether brakes were applied. Dash cam footage can reveal what the driver saw and when. Cell phone records can confirm whether the driver was distracted. In-cab cameras, if installed, can show how attentive the driver was in the moments leading up to impact.

Another important angle is whether the truck was overloaded or improperly balanced. That can affect braking and handling, especially during sudden maneuvers. If the delivery vehicle had unsecured cargo or mechanical issues, that could’ve contributed to the severity of the crash.

Depending on whether the Toyota was struck while still in the center lane or had moved partially onto the shoulder, different questions arise. It’s not clear whether it had hazard lights on or whether there was time for other drivers to avoid it. All of this points to a central truth in truck crash cases: The facts matter, and they often don’t come out in the first round of official reports.

That’s why a full and independent investigation is essential. We can’t assume the truck driver did anything wrong, but we also can’t rule it out until the relevant data is collected and analyzed.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s unclear what the truck driver saw or did before hitting the disabled Toyota.
• Black box data, dash cams and cell phone records will be critical in determining fault.
• The Toyota’s position and visibility at the time of impact remain unanswered questions.
• Whether the truck’s condition or cargo played a role should be closely examined.
• Thorough investigation is the only way to find out whether this was avoidable.