Carson County, TX — January 25, 2025, a man was injured following a truck accident shortly after 12:00 midnight along Interstate Highway 40.

According to authorities, a 22-year-old man from Amarillo was traveling in an eastbound Mazda on Interstate 40 in the vicinity northeast of U.S. Highway 287 when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a rear-end collision took place between the front-end of the Mazda and the back of a Freightliner 18-wheeler's trailer. The man in the Mazda reportedly suffered serious injuries as a result of the wreck. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a passenger car rear-ends the trailer of an 18-wheeler, most people assume the smaller vehicle was at fault. But in cases like this, especially one that happened just after midnight on an interstate, there are important questions that need answers before anyone can draw conclusions about responsibility.

The crash happened on I-40 near U.S. 287—a major route for long-haul freight. According to initial reports, a 22-year-old man driving a Mazda struck the back of a Freightliner’s trailer and suffered serious injuries. But the report doesn’t say whether the 18-wheeler was moving or stopped, whether it was changing lanes or pulling back onto the highway, or whether it had working lights or reflective tape on the trailer. Any one of those details could dramatically change the story.

One key issue in rear-end collisions involving trailers is visibility. At night, trailers that aren’t properly marked or lit can be extremely difficult to see, especially if they’re stopped or moving slowly. Federal regulations require reflective markings and functional tail lights, but not every truck on the road complies with those rules. If the trailer’s lights weren’t working or its reflectors were dirty or missing, that could have made it practically invisible to a driver coming up behind it—even one paying attention.

Another factor worth investigating is whether the truck was improperly stopped in a travel lane, perhaps due to mechanical issues or an unsafe maneuver. I’ve seen cases where a truck driver pulled over but didn’t fully exit the roadway, or attempted to re-enter the highway without making sure the lane was clear. Those types of mistakes don’t leave a lot of room for drivers behind them to react, especially at highway speeds and in the dark.

Beyond the scene itself, investigators should be looking at the truck’s ECM data, dash cams, and lighting inspection records. Did the brakes or hazard lights work? Was the driver following company protocol for pulling over or merging? These are the kinds of questions that don’t get answered from the surface details alone. It takes a full forensic review of the truck’s equipment and the company’s policies to figure out whether this crash was avoidable—and who might be responsible.

Key Takeaways

• It’s unclear whether the 18-wheeler was stopped, moving slowly, or merging at the time of the crash.
• Trailer visibility is a major issue in rear-end crashes, especially at night.
• Missing lights or reflectors, or unsafe maneuvers by the truck driver, could shift liability away from the Mazda driver.
• Evidence like ECM data, dash cam footage, and inspection records will be critical to understanding what happened.
• A full investigation is needed before anyone can determine who, if anyone, should be held accountable.