Terry County, TX — April 30, 2024, Becky Spencer was injured due to a car accident shortly after 12:00 noon along Seagraves Road (U.S. Highway 62).

According to authorities, 53-year-old Becky Spencer was traveling in a southwest bound Chevrolet Silverado on Seagraves Road at the 14th Street (S.H. 137) intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a southeast bound Ford F-250 hauling a trailer entered the intersection at an unsafe time, failing to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign. A collision consequently occurred between the front-end of the Silverado and the left side of the Ford.

Spencer reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident; she was transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment.

Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Crashes involving heavy-duty vehicles and trailers often come down to timing—but when one driver fails to yield at a stop sign, it’s not enough to assume a simple mistake. The real story often hides in what the eye can’t see, especially when serious injuries result.

1. Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
A failure to yield sounds straightforward, but it deserves a deeper look. Was the Ford’s stop confirmed by physical evidence like skid marks or vehicle positioning? Did investigators assess how long each driver had to see the other? Intersections like this one—where large vehicles and trailers are involved—require precise reconstruction to account for stopping distances, trailer swing, and potential blind spots. Anything less risks overlooking key factors that led to the impact.

2. Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
If the Ford entered the intersection at the wrong time, it’s worth asking whether the driver tried to stop and couldn’t. Brake system failure—especially on a vehicle hauling a trailer—can easily turn a routine stop into a disaster. Malfunctions in the trailer’s braking system, hitch problems, or sensor miscommunication between vehicle and trailer are all real possibilities. Unless someone inspects the full rig—truck and trailer—it’s all too easy to chalk this up to human error alone.

3. Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Modern vehicles like both the Ford and the Chevy likely store event data—speed, brake pressure, steering input, and more. That information could show whether the Ford driver attempted to stop, or if the Silverado had any chance to avoid the collision. If the Ford was equipped with trailer brake assist or stability systems, data from those systems might be key as well. But that information only stays accessible if someone takes steps to secure it quickly.

Intersection crashes aren’t just about who had the sign—they’re about why someone ignored it, and whether that choice was really a choice at all.

Takeaways:

• Larger vehicles with trailers need special attention during crash reconstruction.
• Brake or trailer system failures can cause unintentional right-of-way violations.
• Data from the vehicle—and the trailer system—can confirm what actions were taken, and when.