Tom Green County, TX — July 28, 2025, a New Mexico man sustained injuries as the result of an 18-wheeler accident at around 3:02 p.m. on US Highway 67.

Initial details from officials say that the crash took place near Southland Boulevard.

According to investigations, a 70-year-old Hobbs, New Mexico, man was in a Chevy Blazer traveling westbound on the highway. A Kenworth 18-wheeler was going westbound, as well. It appears that the truck made an unsafe lane change, crashing with the Chevy Blazer.

Due to the collision, the New Mexico man sustained serious injuries. No other injuries were reported. Authorities recommended citations for the truck driver.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

If these allegations and initial statements are true, it’s easy to stop at the surface and assume the truck driver is solely at fault. After all, authorities said they recommended citations—case closed, right? Not quite. In commercial trucking, what matters most isn’t just what happened, but why it happened—and that often leads straight back to the employer.

An unsafe lane change in a massive vehicle like an 18-wheeler isn’t always a split-second error. It might be a symptom of something deeper: poor training, unclear routing, distractions in the cab, or even pressure to stay on schedule. These kinds of oversights don’t always originate with the driver. They can—and often do—start at the company level.

In cases I’ve handled, what seemed like simple driver mistakes were actually linked to drivers being rushed, running behind on deliveries, or trying to navigate unfamiliar roads without adequate support. Some companies rely on aggressive dispatch practices or don’t properly monitor driver behavior, allowing for continued reckless behavior. Others send drivers out with minimal training and expect them to figure it out under pressure. Those conditions don’t show up on a citation, but they’re just as responsible for what happens on the road.

That’s why a real investigation can’t stop with the crash report. It should look at how the driver was managed, what kind of training they received, and whether the company took steps to minimize the risks that led to this moment. Because if the driver wasn’t set up to operate safely in the first place, then accountability needs to extend beyond the cab—and into the boardroom.

Key Takeaways

• A citation for an unsafe lane change might show what happened, not why it happened.
• Trucking companies may contribute to risky maneuvers by applying schedule pressure, neglecting training, or failing to supervise.
• Unsafe moves like this often reflect systemic problems in how a company manages its fleet and drivers.
• A thorough investigation should include driver logs, training records, dispatch communications, and performance monitoring.
• Blaming the driver alone misses the broader responsibility of companies that put drivers in a position to fail.