Ross, TX — June 21, 2025, Matthew Hajek was killed in a truck accident at about 3:35 a.m. on F.M. 3149/West Tours Road.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2000 Ford F-450 was heading northeast on F.M. 3149 when it veered off the road and overturned.

Driver Matthew Hajek, 36, died in the crash, according to the report.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

In the quietest hours of the morning, when roads are nearly empty, the assumption is that danger is far away. But it's often in these still moments that tragedy strikes hardest, and with few witnesses, the path to answers becomes more difficult. That’s why it’s critical to dig beneath the surface of any serious crash, especially when early reports offer little clarity.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? An early-morning single-vehicle rollover demands a close look at how the initial investigation was handled. It’s not enough to document skid marks or note the vehicle’s final resting place. The real work starts with a full reconstruction: laser measurements of the scene, trajectory analysis and a timeline of the driver's activities leading up to the crash. Without these steps, assumptions can replace facts. In rural counties, especially, the depth of crash analysis can vary dramatically based on the training and resources of the agency involved.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? When a truck suddenly leaves the road and overturns, there’s often a rush to conclude that the driver simply lost control. But in a vehicle that’s nearly 25 years old, the risk of mechanical failure — like steering linkage issues, brake loss or tire blowouts — is significantly higher. Unless the vehicle is preserved and carefully inspected by someone qualified to detect subtle failures, the role of a defect might never come to light. It’s a gap in the process that continues to leave important questions unanswered.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Even in older vehicles like a 2000 F-450, some data may be retrievable from aftermarket GPS systems, dash cameras or even synced smartphones. Was there an attempt to pull data from a phone or trace activity leading up to the moment of the crash? Were any traffic or security cameras in the area reviewed to see if the vehicle's behavior in the minutes before the rollover could offer insights? Without those efforts, valuable context is lost.

Fatal crashes on empty roads can feel like unsolvable mysteries. But they’re not, at least not if the right questions are asked early, and if the evidence is treated like the key it truly is. Every crash deserves more than guesswork. It deserves a genuine attempt to understand what really happened.

Takeaways:

• Single-vehicle crashes need full reconstructions, not just surface-level reports.
• Older trucks can fail in subtle ways that require expert mechanical review.
• Even basic digital traces can provide critical insight into the moments before a crash.