Terry County, TX — December 6, 2025, Tommie Hernandez was killed in a single-vehicle accident at about 7:15 p.m. in the 1200 block of County Road 200.

Authorities said a 2007 Chevrolet 2500 HD was heading east when it overcorrected after leaving the road and overturned northeast of Meadow.

Driver Tommie Hernandez, 66, of Levelland died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When someone dies in a crash alone on a rural road, it often leaves behind more questions than answers. It’s natural to wonder not just what happened in that moment, but why, and whether anything could have been done differently. These aren’t just details for the report; they matter to anyone trying to make sense of a sudden and tragic loss.

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? A crash that ends in a fatal rollover deserves more than a surface-level look. That means measuring tire marks, mapping the vehicle’s path and digging into whether the driver made any sudden moves or if something forced their hand. It’s not clear yet whether investigators in Terry County went beyond the basics. Some officers have advanced training in crash reconstruction, but not all departments allocate the same level of resources or expertise. Without that, key details can be missed; details that might explain what really caused the vehicle to leave the road.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? With an older pickup like a 2007 Chevy 2500 HD, mechanical issues can’t be ruled out. Brake problems, steering malfunctions or even a sudden tire blowout could explain why a driver might veer off unexpectedly and then lose control trying to get back on the road. These things don’t always leave obvious signs, especially after a rollover. That’s why a full mechanical inspection is crucial, but there’s no public word yet on whether one was done.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? Even a vehicle from 2007 can hold useful data. If the truck had an engine control module, it might show whether the brakes were used, how fast the vehicle was going or if there were any steering inputs in those final seconds. Other sources, like GPS data or a driver’s phone, could offer additional context. So far, it’s not known whether investigators reviewed any of that. In single-vehicle cases, that kind of information often fills in the blanks.

There’s a tendency to treat single-vehicle crashes as cut-and-dried, but doing so can overlook key facts. Getting to the bottom of what happened means asking more than just “what went wrong?” It means asking why, and not stopping until those answers are clear.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s unknown whether crash investigators used advanced tools to understand the rollover.
• Vehicle defects like brake or steering failures should always be ruled out in older vehicles.
• Data from the vehicle or the driver’s phone may hold clues about what caused the crash.