Reeves County, TX — April 20, 2025, Adam Ferguson was killed and Uriel Vazquez was injured in a truck accident at about 9:45 a.m. on U.S. Route 285.

Authorities said a northbound 2014 Kenworth semi-truck veered into oncoming traffic at mile marker 350 because of a defective left front tire, colliding with a 1999 Freightliner semi-truck and sideswiping another 1995 Kenworth semi-truck in the southbound lanes.

The driver of the first truck Adam Joe Ferguson, 26, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities, while the driver of the second truck, Uriel Primitivo Vazquez, 41, was hospitalized with minor injuries. The third driver was not injured.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Reeves County crash. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a semi-truck veers into oncoming traffic due to a defective tire and causes a multi-vehicle crash, especially one that results in a fatality, the legal investigation turns immediately to one critical question: Why was that tire allowed to remain on the truck in the first place? Based on initial reports, a 2014 Kenworth northbound on U.S. Route 285 crossed into the southbound lanes because of a left front tire defect. The result was a head-on collision with another semi-truck and a sideswipe of a third. The driver of the at-fault truck lost his life, and another driver was injured.

This crash highlights one of the most preventable causes of commercial vehicle accidents: tire failure. Front steer tire defects are particularly dangerous because a blowout or failure on a steering axle makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the driver to maintain control. On highways like U.S. 285, where opposing traffic is separated by little more than painted lines, the margin for error is minimal, and the consequences are often deadly.

Tires don’t typically fail without warning. They may be underinflated, worn past their limits, damaged by road hazards or simply too old to be safe. The investigation must begin with a forensic analysis of the tire itself to determine the cause of the failure. If it was due to poor maintenance, improper installation or failure to replace a worn or defective tire, then liability could rest with the trucking company that owned or maintained the vehicle. If the tire was defective from the start, then the manufacturer may share responsibility.

Equally important is the question of whether routine inspections were being carried out. Federal regulations require daily vehicle inspections and detailed maintenance logs. The trucking company should be able to produce documentation showing that the tires were checked regularly, and not just in theory, but in actual practice. If that documentation is missing, incomplete or falsified, it could point to a systemic failure in the company’s safety procedures.

The fact that the truck driver who lost control was the one who died in the crash doesn’t remove the need for accountability. If he was operating under the assumption that his equipment was in good working order, then the focus shifts to whoever was responsible for making sure the truck was roadworthy. That could include maintenance staff, supervisors or third-party service providers.

Truck crashes caused by mechanical failure are especially troubling because they often stem from problems that should have been caught well before the vehicle ever hit the road. A single tire, when neglected or defective, has the power to turn a fully loaded semi-truck into a deadly force, especially when it crosses into oncoming traffic.

This investigation should leave no room for doubt about how the failure occurred and who allowed it to happen. Because when someone dies in a crash that started with a known and preventable mechanical risk, the real failure isn’t just at the point of impact. It’s in every missed opportunity to keep that vehicle, and every other vehicle it encountered, safe.