Burnet County, TX — December 27, 2025, Carter Caroom was killed in a morning truck accident on State Highway 71 south of Spicewood.

Authorities said a 2017 Jeep Wrangler and a semi-truck collided head-on near the intersection with County Road 408.

Jeep driver Carter Douglas Caroom, 45, of Spicewood was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

The truck driver was hospitalized with unspecified injuries after the crash, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When folks read about a head-on collision between a Jeep and a semi-truck, the first thing they often wonder is: How does something like that even happen? A truck that size doesn't just end up in the wrong lane by accident, not without something going seriously wrong. But from what's been released so far, we’re missing key information that would help anyone understand what led to this fatal crash on Highway 71.

Authorities confirmed that the Jeep driver was killed and the truck driver was injured, but they haven't said which vehicle crossed the center line, or why. That’s not a minor detail. It’s the starting point for determining responsibility.

If the semi-truck crossed into oncoming traffic, then it’s critical to ask: Was the driver distracted? Was he fatigued? Was there a mechanical issue with the truck? None of that can be answered without looking at black box data, dash cam footage and possibly the driver’s cell phone records. I’ve handled cases where a trucking company insisted their driver did nothing wrong, right up until the evidence showed otherwise.

On the other hand, if the Jeep veered into the truck’s path, the question becomes whether the trucker had enough time and space to avoid the crash, or whether other factors played a role, like speed or poor visibility. Again, the answers will be in the data.

There’s also the broader question of the trucking company’s role. Did they have solid hiring and training policies, or did they rush an unqualified driver onto the road? In one of my past cases, we discovered that a driver involved in a crash had been fired from multiple previous jobs, and the company that hired her gave her a laughably short “road test” before putting her behind the wheel of a big rig. The company’s poor judgment in that case was just as much to blame as the driver’s.

Until more facts are released, we’re left with unanswered questions. But those questions aren’t just technical; they’re the path to getting the truth about what happened here.

Key Takeaways:

• Authorities haven’t said which vehicle crossed into the other’s lane, making it impossible to assign responsibility at this point.
• Critical evidence like black box data, in-cab cameras and cell phone records can clarify what the truck driver was doing before the crash.
• The trucking company’s hiring and training practices may also be relevant, depending on what the investigation reveals.
• A proper investigation will look beyond the surface to uncover any combination of driver error, mechanical failure or corporate negligence.
• Without answers, we can’t know who should be held accountable, but that’s exactly why thorough investigation is essential.