Panola County, TX — October 3, 2025, Coby Sepulvado was injured as the result of an 18-wheeler accident at around 5:17 p.m. along FM 123.

Authorities said in preliminary statements that the crash happened several miles east of Carthage near FM 31.

According to officials, 26-year-old Coby Sepulvado was in a Chevy pickup traveling northeast. A Mack truck was reportedly going northbound on a private drive when it allegedly failed to yield the right-of-way. As a result, the vehicles collided.

Authorities say that Coby Sepulvado sustained serious injuries in the accident. Authorities recommended a charge for the truck driver.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a crash involves a commercial truck that allegedly fails to yield, people often see the citation that follows and assume that’s the full story. But in serious accidents like this one, where someone suffers significant injuries, it’s critical to look deeper than a single traffic violation. Failing to yield is a clear and avoidable mistake. But the real issue isn’t just what happened—it’s why it happened.

Was the driver inexperienced or improperly trained? Were they under pressure to make a delivery faster than was realistically safe? Was their line of sight blocked by poor signage or property conditions? These aren’t abstract possibilities—they’re the kinds of questions that come up again and again in cases involving serious commercial vehicle wrecks.

Simply put, trucking companies are obligated to make sure their drivers are qualified, properly trained, and able to make safe decisions on the road. When they cut corners—on hiring, training, or managing workloads—those shortcuts can show up in moments like this. So when that happens, the consequences can't just begin and end behind the wheel. They need to address all of the mistakes that led to the accident. Otherwise, those problems will persist until more people get hurt.

Key Takeaways

• A failure to yield is a clear error, but it’s important to understand what led to it.
• Common factors like poor training, tight schedules, or inexperience may point to employer oversight.
• A trucking company’s hiring and safety practices often play a role in avoidable crashes.
• Real accountability goes beyond citations—it requires a full investigation into how and why the driver made that mistake.