Taylor County, TX — January 9, 2026, Hector Peralez was injured in a truck accident just after 6 a.m. on U.S. Highway 277 west of Buffalo Gap.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2007 Mack truck was pulling out of a private driveway when it collided with a westbound 2004 Toyota Tundra.

The driver of the Toyota, Hector Peralez, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report.

The truck driver, who was not injured, was cited for failure to yield, the report states.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a crash where a semi-truck pulled out of a driveway and collided with an oncoming vehicle, the first thing they tend to ask is, “How could something like that happen?” After all, the rules for entering a roadway are pretty clear: vehicles pulling out must yield to traffic already on the road. And yet, here we are with a serious injury and a citation issued to the truck driver.

From what’s been reported, it appears the truck was exiting a private drive and entered the path of a westbound pickup. The driver of that pickup was seriously hurt, while the truck driver was cited for failing to yield. That’s a meaningful development, but it still leaves some major questions unanswered.

One of the biggest issues here is timing. Was the pickup in plain view when the truck entered the roadway? If so, that suggests either the trucker wasn’t paying attention or grossly misjudged the situation. If visibility was limited — say, due to darkness, terrain or weather — that raises different concerns. Was the driveway poorly situated for safe entry? Was the truck creeping out slowly, or did it move into the lane abruptly?

Answering those questions requires looking beyond the scene report. Dash cam footage, in-cab video, and cell phone records can tell us a lot about what the truck driver was doing in those crucial seconds. The truck’s engine control module (ECM)—its "black box"—could confirm how fast the truck was moving, whether the driver braked or accelerated, and if there was any mechanical issue at play.

But technology isn’t the only place to look. This crash also raises the question of whether the trucking company had appropriate policies and training in place. Was the driver familiar with that driveway and its sight lines? Was there a safe procedure for exiting that location at night or early morning? I’ve handled cases where drivers were sent on routes they had no business taking or were rushed into unsafe situations by company deadlines.

There’s also the matter of the driveway itself. Depending on its location and design, it may not have been safe for a truck to use at all, especially in low-light conditions. That’s something a thorough investigation would consider, possibly with the help of crash reconstruction experts.

Ultimately, the goal isn’t just to identify who was cited; it’s to determine who made decisions that led to the collision and who failed to prevent it. That can’t happen without gathering the full range of available evidence, from electronic data to internal company practices.

Key Takeaways:

• The truck driver was cited for failing to yield, but critical questions remain about how and why the truck entered the roadway.
• Evidence like dash cams, ECM data and phone records can help determine the truck driver's actions and timing.
• Company policies, training and the design of the driveway itself could play a role in who is ultimately responsible.
• Accountability depends on a thorough, independent investigation, not just what’s in the initial crash report.