Dallas, TX — February 23, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 2:40 p.m. on Interstate 635/Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway.

Authorities said a motorcycle crashed into the back of a dump truck while headed east between Greenville Avenue and Abrams Road.

The motorcyclist, whose name has not been made public, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

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

Commentary

Crashes where a motorcyclist runs into the back of a truck are often assumed to be the rider’s fault, but that’s not always the full story. The key question here is why the collision happened in the first place.

One factor that should be investigated is whether the dump truck was moving at the time of the crash. Was it stopped in a lane of travel? If so, was that due to a mechanical failure, traffic conditions or an unsafe stop by the driver? Large trucks that stop unexpectedly, especially without proper hazard signals, create serious dangers for other drivers: especially motorcyclists, who have far less protection than those in passenger vehicles.

Another issue to consider is visibility. Dump trucks, like many heavy vehicles, have a high rear profile, which can make them difficult to see in certain lighting conditions. If the truck’s brake lights, reflectors or other markings weren’t clearly visible, the motorcyclist may not have had enough time to react. Investigators should take a close look at whether the truck met all visibility and lighting requirements.

Of course, it’s also necessary to examine the motorcyclist’s actions. Were they following too closely? Were they distracted, speeding, or impaired? Motorcycles stop and maneuver differently than other vehicles, and riders have to be particularly cautious around large trucks. But even if rider error played a role, that doesn’t mean the truck driver is automatically in the clear.

At this stage, there’s not enough information to say exactly what went wrong. But crashes like this deserve a full investigation that goes beyond just assuming the motorcyclist was at fault. If there were visibility issues, improper stopping or other preventable factors, those need to be addressed to help prevent similar crashes in the future.