Wise County, TX — September 29, 2025, Lori Sanders and Christopher Richard were injured following an 18-wheeler accident around 6:00 a.m. on FM 2048.

According to initial details about the accident, it happened southwest of Boyd, a couple miles west of FM 730.

Investigations said that 58-year-old Lori Sanders was in a Chrysler Town & Country going westbound. 58-year-old Christopher Richard was in a Ford F-150 going eastbound. Authorities said that a Freightliner tractor-trailer was going westbound when it failed to control speed, resulting in the three vehicles colliding.

Due to the accident, both Lori Sanders and Christopher Richard were seriously injured, authorities said. The truck driver was recommended a citation. Additional details are unavailable at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When authorities issue a citation after a commercial truck crash, it's easy to assume that answers have been found and that there will be accountability. But from a legal and investigative standpoint, a citation is often just a starting point—not the end of the road.

In these statements, the allegation is that the semi-truck driver failed to control speed and caused a collision involving multiple vehicles. That's a serious claim, but it also raises a key question: Why couldn’t the driver slow down? Was the driver distracted? Fatigued? Traveling too fast for road conditions? Each of those possibilities has different implications, and all of them can involve more than just a single reckless driver. It's important to ask whether a truck driver's employer played a role.

I've handled hundreds of commercial vehicle accident cases. In my experience, crashes like this often trace back to how a trucking company manages its drivers. For example, companies may push workers to meet aggressive deadlines or long hours, fail to properly screen their drivers’ qualifications, or ignore repeated complaints about unsafe behavior. These aren’t just hypothetical issues—they’re patterns that show up again and again in real cases, and there are plenty of companies out there willing to cut corners if it means helping their bottom line.

That's why investigations into serious truck wrecks like this shouldn't be limited to the cab of the truck. The real issues could extend all the way to the dispatcher’s desk or the executive suite. A full investigation should look at company policies, driver logs, maintenance history, and internal communications to get a complete picture of what all led to the crash. That can help ensure both accountability for the crash and help prevent future accidents.

Key Takeaways

• A citation for failure to control speed is just one piece of a larger investigation.
• Fatigue, distraction, or poor maintenance may have contributed to the crash.
• Company practices—like scheduling pressure or poor driver oversight—often play a hidden role.
• Real accountability means looking beyond the driver and into the company that put them on the road.