Luling, TX — October 29, 2025, Maria Reyes and two others were injured following a semi-truck accident around 11:51 a.m. along US 183.

Authorities say that the accident happened north of Luling on US 183/Magnolia Avenue.

It appears that 79-year-old Maria Reyes was a passenger in a Chevy Spark making a turn onto Magnolia. A Mack truck was going southbound when it crashed into the Chevy. Due to this, Maria Reyes was seriously injured. Two others in the Spark had moderate injuries.

Right now, additional details surrounding the crash are unconfirmed.

Commentary by Michael Grossman

I've handled hundreds of commercial vehicle accident cases, and the immediate aftermath is almost always chaotic. In all that chaos, it's easy for authorities to lose focus and let important evidence slip through the cracks. That's why it can be important to consider some key questions early on in the investigations.

1. Did authorities have the training, equipment, and time to handle the investigations properly?
   Not all departments prioritize accident reconstruction—especially out in rural areas. That means officers may not have the ability to conduct a proper investigation on their own.
2. Have the vehicles been inspected for possible defects?
   Whether it's an issue that causes a vehicle to lose control, problems with crash avoidance technology, or faulty seatbelts or airbags making injuries more severe, defects can happen. As such, they should at least be ruled out.
3. Is electronic data being preserved?
   Most modern vehicles capture data, including speeds, braking, and even steering input, which can shed light on the moments leading up to the crash. Cellphone data and any video footage of the crash is also important, but some of the evidence can be time-sensitive.

In my experience, if authorities can provide satisfactory answers to these questions, it's generally a sign they're doing good work. But if their answers come up short, that may instead be a sign the crash needs to be in the hands of independent accident reconstructionists. The sooner victims and families know which path is best for them, the better.