Kemp, TX — November 17, 2022, 47-year-old Israel Antunez was seriously injured in a crash with a tractor-trailer on U.S. Highway 175 in Kaufman County.

Authorities say the incident happened around 6:20 a.m. on US-175 near Farm to Market Road 2860. Preliminary investigation suggests a Freightliner semi-truck was towing a trailer east on the highway when the driver reportedly pulled into the median crossing and stopped for the posted sign. He then made a left turn through the westbound lanes as he pulled onto the shoulder in front of the business where his loaded trailer was to be dropped off.

Investigators report that Antunez' Lexus sedan was traveling west on the highway around that time; possibly due to heavy fog he was allegedly unable to see the turning big rig's trailer in his path and crashed into the back of it. The impact was great enough that the car became lodged underneath the trailer.

Antunez suffered serious injuries in the crash. The truck driver was unhurt.

No further information is currently available.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Investigators believed the main factor of this crash was the truck driver failing to yield before turning. If the semi-trailer was still in the roadway when the victim passed through that may be accurate, but that doesn't mean he or his employer are likely to agree. In fact, years of experience tell me they'd fight like hell to blame something else: Those foggy conditions, inattention or speeding by the victim, or whatever else they think might get them off the hook.

I don't say that to be cynical, but rather to set expectations. Folks often believe that police get the final word about what happened and who's to blame, but that's not necessarily true. That's why it's important to know—and prove—the whole story as told by just clear facts. At the very least it's always best to eliminate confusion or doubt about what happened, so I hope that what the Kemp victim eventually got was enough to at least answer his questions.