Liberty County, TX — September 23, 2025, Christopher DeGeorge was injured in a truck accident at about 3:15 p.m. on State Highway 105/East Houston Street.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 1998 Peterbilt semi-truck jackknifed near Ainsworth, then was struck by a westbound 2016 Ford F-450.

Ford driver Christopher DeGeorge, 66, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report.

The truck driver, who also was seriously injured, was cited for speeding after the crash, the report states.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a crash involves a jackknifed 18-wheeler and another vehicle slamming into it, people naturally want to know: How did this happen? Was the crash just a result of bad luck, or did someone drop the ball? Based on the available information, it appears the semi-truck lost control and jackknifed across the road, leading to a serious collision with a westbound pickup. But that only scratches the surface.

The report says the truck driver was cited for speeding. That alone suggests one potential cause, but it raises more questions than it answers. How fast was the truck going? Was the road wet or curved in a way that made it harder to stop? Was the driver distracted or fatigued? A citation on its own doesn't tell us enough to draw conclusions. It just tells us where investigators started.

To really understand how this crash happened, we’d need to look at the truck’s black box data, also known as the engine control module (ECM). That would show how fast the truck was going, whether the brakes were applied and what actions the driver took in the seconds before the jackknife. If the truck had in-cab cameras, they might offer insight into whether the driver was looking at the road or reaching for something inside the cab. Cell phone records can also help confirm whether the driver was using a phone around the time of the crash.

The trucking company’s role should also be part of the investigation. Did they have reasonable safety policies? What kind of training did the driver receive? Was there a pattern of violations in the driver’s history that should’ve raised red flags during hiring? I’ve handled cases where the driver turned out to be unqualified from the start, but the company put them behind the wheel anyway. When that happens, it’s not just a driver mistake. It’s a company failure.

Another key question is how the jackknifed truck ended up positioned in the path of traffic. Depending on whether it came to rest in an active travel lane or across multiple lanes, the legal implications may shift. Did the driver have any opportunity to regain control? Was the truck stopped long enough before the collision that warning devices, like reflective triangles, could have been deployed? These are details that often get overlooked unless someone takes the time to investigate properly.

Ultimately, a crash like this demands more than just a citation and a police report. Getting to the truth takes evidence: technical data, driver history and company records. Without that, it's impossible to hold the right parties accountable.

Key Takeaways:

• A speeding citation raises concerns but doesn’t fully explain why the truck jackknifed.
• Critical evidence like ECM data, dash cams and cell phone records may clarify the driver’s actions.
• The trucking company’s training and hiring practices could be relevant depending on what the investigation uncovers.
• How long the truck was stopped and where it came to rest are important unanswered questions.
• Thorough investigation is the only way to understand who should be held responsible.