Wise County, TX — June 16, 2025, one person was killed and three were injured after an 18-wheeler accident early Monday along US Highway 380.

Authorities say that the crash happened a few miles east of Decatur near Private Road 4011.

According to officials, the crash involved a pickup and an 18-wheeler. Exact details are unavailable right now, but statements say the 18-wheeler t-boned the pickup. As a result, one person in the pickup was killed.

Authorities say two others from the pickup were seriously injured while the 18-wheeler driver was said to be in stable condition. At this time, the cause of the crash remains unconfirmed.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a crash between an 18-wheeler and a pickup results in one death and multiple serious injuries, it’s not enough to rely on basic summaries. For the people affected, what matters most is whether the full story will come to light—and that starts with asking the right questions from the beginning.

1. Did investigators have the time, training, and equipment to fully examine the crash?
Collisions involving commercial trucks are complex by nature. Did the crash team reconstruct the sequence of events, document impact points, and carefully map out the scene? A full analysis requires specialized knowledge and tools—without those, important facts may be overlooked.

2. Has anyone examined whether a mechanical or safety system failure contributed to the crash or its severity?
Heavy trucks and pickups both rely on critical systems to prevent and reduce the impact of crashes. Was the semi’s braking system functioning properly? Did steering or stability systems in either vehicle fail to respond? Just as important, did seatbelts, airbags, or other safety systems in the pickup perform as intended? A failure in any of these could have made the outcome far worse.

3. Has all the vehicle data, phone records, and nearby footage been collected?
Both the semi and the pickup may contain electronic data—speed, braking, and control inputs—that can confirm how each vehicle was operating in the moments before impact. Investigators should also check phone records to establish timing and search for any surveillance or traffic cameras that could provide visual confirmation. Without these, critical pieces of the crash may never be fully understood.

When lives are lost and others are forever changed, early assumptions aren’t good enough. A full investigation is the only way to ensure no factor goes unnoticed.

Takeaways:

• Commercial truck crashes demand specialized scene analysis to determine full cause and timing.
• Mechanical or safety failures may have contributed to the crash or worsened its outcome.
• Vehicle data, phone activity, and nearby footage are essential for a complete understanding.