Parmer County, TX — March 14, 2025, Steven Ellard was killed in a truck accident at about 11:30 a.m. on U.S. Route 60 east of Farwell.

Authorities said a 2000 Peterbilt semi-truck was trying to move off the road after being involved in an accident when it was hit from behind by two vehicles, a 2011 GMC Sierra and a 2008 Chrysler.

GMC driver Steven Ellard, 71, of Amarillo was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

The crash occurred as blowing dirt from high winds limited visibility.

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

Commentary

Crashes involving low-visibility conditions raise serious concerns about driver awareness, roadway safety and whether authorities had enough warning measures in place. In this case, reports indicate that a semi-truck was attempting to move off the road after a prior crash when it was hit from behind by two vehicles, including a GMC Sierra whose driver was killed. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to limited visibility, driver reactions or another contributing factor.

One of the first questions investigators should answer is whether drivers had enough time to react to the stopped or slowing truck. Blowing dirt from high winds can dramatically reduce visibility, making it difficult for drivers to see obstacles until it's too late. Were there warning signals, such as hazard lights or flares, to alert approaching drivers? Reviewing black box data, dashcam footage and witness statements will be critical in understanding whether the drivers had enough time and space to respond.

Another key factor is whether road conditions made it unsafe to continue driving. Was visibility so low that drivers should have pulled off the road entirely? If the blowing dirt reduced visibility to near zero, authorities should examine whether traffic control measures — such as road closures or reduced speed advisories — were in place or should have been implemented.

Speed and following distance are also critical concerns. Even in poor visibility, drivers are responsible for maintaining a safe speed and leaving enough space to react to unexpected slowdowns. Did the drivers behind the truck have time to slow down, or were they following too closely? Investigators should review speed data and road conditions to determine if excessive speed contributed to the crash.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on who hit whom without investigating why drivers were unable to avoid the collision — whether due to extreme weather, lack of visibility warnings or road conditions — they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a full understanding of what went wrong.