Beaumont, TX — June 24, 2025, Ethan Klinkhammer was injured as the result of an 18-wheeler accident at around 4:57 a.m. along I-10.

According to investigators, the accident happened near Laurel Avenue along the interstate.

Officials said that 21-year-old Ethan Klinkhammer was in a Ford F-150 going on I-10, reportedly disabled in a lane of travel. A Kenworth tractor-trailer was approaching when authorities allege that it failed to control speed. As a result, the vehicles collided.

Due to the accident, Ethan Klinkhammer was seriously injured. No other injuries were confirmed. At this time, additional details are unavailable.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

A key factor here is going to be whether the victim's vehicle was visible and avoidable. To that end, have authorities examined the truck for any dashcam footage or video from inside the truck? Commercial vehicles often have these cameras, and securing that evidence as soon as possible can be vital.

For example, I had a case not long ago where video evidence was vital to find out why a truck hit a disabled car. The trucking company initial just said the vehicle wasn't visible, and the truck driver had no way of avoiding it. The video we secured through court orders, though, told a different story.

For one, the dash cam footage from the truck showed the victim's car had its emergency lights on. The car was visible nearly three-quarters of a mile down the road, but the truck never moved over or slowed down. Why? Well, a video camera inside the driver's cabin showed the driver was too busy watching shows on a tablet to bother looking up at the road. By the time he did, it was too late.

I'm not saying that's what happened in this accident. Rather, it's an example of why taking steps early to preserve evidence is so crucial. Dash cam footage is routinely deleted and overwritten. A lot of other vital evidence surrounding truck wrecks is time-sensitive, as well. That's why it's important steps are taken to secure that evidence so the victims and families involved can make sure the full story is brought to light.