McLennan County, TX — October 1, 2025, one person was injured in a truck accident just after 9 p.m. on Interstate 35 south of West.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a northbound 2021 Toyota Tacoma crashed into the back of a 2018 Freightliner semi-truck near exit 353.

The Toyota driver, a 20-year-old man, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report. His name has not been made public yet.

The truck driver was not hurt, the report states.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a pickup hitting the back of an 18-wheeler, they might assume it's an open-and-shut case: the smaller vehicle is at fault. But that’s not always true, and assumptions like that can short-circuit the kind of careful investigation these crashes require.

The key question here is why the Toyota Tacoma ran into the back of the semi-truck. Until investigators answer that, it's impossible to know who, if anyone, acted negligently.

Depending on whether the truck was moving or stopped, different questions arise. If it was stopped or moving slowly in an active travel lane, why was that the case? Was the truck experiencing mechanical problems? Had the driver just come to a stop unexpectedly, without giving adequate warning? On the other hand, if both vehicles were moving, did something suddenly reduce visibility or road traction? Was the truck driver traveling significantly below the speed of traffic, or weaving between lanes?

There are also basic issues of visibility and lighting. Was the back of the trailer properly lit or reflective, especially for nighttime driving? In low-light conditions, missing or poorly maintained lighting can turn the rear of a trailer into a deadly obstacle.

Getting to the truth means going beyond the surface of the crash report. The truck’s engine control module (ECM) can show how fast it was going, whether it braked and what gear it was in just before the crash. If there are dash cams or in-cab cameras, those could clarify what the driver saw and did, or didn’t do. And it’s worth knowing whether the driver had a clean record, was properly trained,and was alert and fit to drive at the time.

Sometimes the issue goes deeper than the driver. I’ve seen cases where a trucking company cut corners during the hiring process or failed to properly maintain its vehicles. Without a full investigation, there's no way to know whether that played a role here, but it's always something worth checking.

These are questions that a proper investigation should answer. And in my experience, they usually don't come to light unless someone actively pursues them.

Key Takeaways:

• A rear-end crash doesn't automatically mean the rear driver is at fault. Context matters.
• It’s not yet clear whether the semi-truck was moving or stopped; that detail is critical.
• Evidence like ECM data, dash cams and trailer lighting must be reviewed to understand what happened.
• The trucking company's maintenance and hiring practices may be relevant depending on what the investigation reveals.
• A full, independent investigation is necessary to determine who, if anyone, should be held responsible.