Hardin County, TX — July 25, 2025, Otis Smart, Melissa Smart, Triston Smart and Terry Smart were killed and Kali Smart and another person were injured in a truck accident at about 11:35 p.m. on F.M. 92.

Authorities said a tanker truck was heading south when it hit a UTV that had pulled out from Jim Burns Road.

Four Kountze residents — Otis Smart, 46; Melissa Smart, 33; Triston Smart, 26; and Terry Smart, 63 — were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. Another person who had been in the UTV, 30-year-old Kali Smart, was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

The truck driver, a Houston man, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash north of Silsbee, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Hardin County crash. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a crash like the one in Hardin County, the question that immediately comes to mind is: How could something like this happen? Reports say a tanker truck hit a UTV that had just pulled out from a side road, but beyond that, details are scarce. That leaves us with a number of unanswered questions, each of which matters if we’re serious about getting to the truth.

First, it’s important to understand the moment of impact. Did the UTV pull out in front of the truck too suddenly for the driver to stop? Or was the truck speeding, distracted or otherwise not in a position to avoid the crash even if the UTV moved cautiously? At this point, it’s not clear. The answer could drastically change who’s responsible.

To figure that out, we’d need to look at several key pieces of evidence. For instance, was the truck equipped with an engine control module? If so, that "black box" device can tell us how fast the truck was going, whether the driver braked and whether cruise control or other systems were engaged. If the truck had in-cab cameras, they might show what the driver was doing at the time: whether he saw the UTV and tried to react or whether he was distracted.

Cell phone records also matter. Was the truck driver texting or on a call? We won’t know unless someone obtains those records. And depending on lighting conditions, we’d also want to ask whether both vehicles had working lights and whether visibility might have played a role. Again, the reports so far don’t tell us.

None of these questions are about pointing fingers before the facts are known. They’re about building a full picture of what really happened, so that if mistakes were made, those responsible are held accountable, and if not, then that truth is just as important to establish. Either way, answers don’t come from assumptions. They come from evidence.

Key Takeaways:

• The cause of the crash is still unclear; critical evidence like black box data and dash cam footage may help explain what happened.
• Whether the UTV pulled out too quickly or the truck was speeding or distracted will be central to determining fault.
• The truck driver’s cell phone use and visibility at the time of the crash are important investigative questions.
• Real accountability depends on getting all the facts, not just what appears at first glance.