Gaines County, TX — July 6, 2024, Demetras Reed was injured in a truck accident at about 11:20 a.m. on State Highway 214 north of Seminole.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a southbound 2007 Harley-Davidson FLS motorcycle collided with the trailer of a 2010 International semi-truck that was turning left from County Road 209.

Motorcyclist Demetras Reed, 33, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report.

The truck driver, who was not injured, was cited for failure to yield after the crash, the report states.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Gaines County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a crash like this happens, where a truck turns across the path of a motorcycle, the first question that comes to mind is: Why did the truck driver think it was safe to turn? Authorities say the trucker was cited for failure to yield, but that alone doesn’t explain the circumstances. Was the truck stopped and then suddenly moved? Was the motorcycle hidden from view, or did the driver simply not look carefully enough? Until more evidence comes out, we’re left with a lot of unanswered questions.

In my experience, these left-turn collisions usually boil down to timing and visibility. Truck drivers are trained to account for approaching traffic before turning across a highway. If they don’t, and someone gets hurt, that’s a serious lapse. But to prove exactly what happened, investigators will need to go further than a roadside citation. That means pulling the engine control module (the truck’s black box), checking dash cam footage if it exists and analyzing the scene for sightlines and signage. These tools can help determine whether the driver acted carelessly or misjudged the situation.

Another important angle is whether the truck company had proper safety policies in place. Did they screen the driver appropriately before hiring? What training did he receive on rural highway operations? I’ve handled cases where it wasn’t just the trucker who made a mistake; it was also a company that cut corners on driver vetting or failed to enforce safety procedures. Without those answers, it’s impossible to know whether this crash was a momentary error or a failure that started long before the truck ever reached that intersection.

Depending on whether the truck was moving slowly, rolling through the turn or stopped and then started again, different liability questions arise. The placement of the trailer, how far it had entered the highway and whether the motorcyclist had time or space to react all factor in. Unfortunately, those are things no one can judge without a close look at the crash scene and vehicle data.

Key Takeaways:

• A simple citation for failure to yield doesn’t tell the full story. Black box data and dash cams may provide more insight.
• It’s not clear whether the truck was stopped or moving when the motorcyclist approached, an important unanswered question.
• Investigators should also look at the trucking company’s hiring, training and safety policies to assess broader responsibility.
• Timing and visibility are central in left-turn crashes; scene reconstruction is essential to determine fault.
• Accountability depends on evidence, not assumptions, about how the crash unfolded and why.