Moore, TX — November 22, 2025, Travis Pursley was killed in a truck accident at about 4 a.m. on Interstate 35/Monarch Highway.

A preliminary accident report indicates that a 2003 Freightliner semi-truck was heading southwest near F.M. 462 when it hit a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, 21-year-old Hondo resident Travis Ray Pursley, died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to the report.

The truck driver, who was not hurt, is not facing any charges or citations related to the crash, the report states.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a fatal crash involving a pedestrian and an 18-wheeler, one of the first things they want to know is, “How did someone end up on the highway in the path of a moving semi?” That’s a fair question, but it’s not the only one. Just as important is what the truck driver was doing in the moments before the crash and whether their actions, or inactions, played a role. Based on the limited information available, we don’t yet have a clear picture of how this tragic situation unfolded.

Authorities say a Freightliner semi hit a pedestrian around 4 a.m. on I-35 near FM 462. They also report that the truck driver wasn’t hurt and isn't facing charges at this point. But that leaves us with more questions than answers.

For starters, it’s not clear where on the roadway the pedestrian was when the collision occurred. Was he walking in a lane of traffic, standing on the shoulder or trying to cross the highway? Depending on those details, very different legal questions arise. For example, if the pedestrian was in a travel lane in the dark, visibility becomes a key issue. If he was on the shoulder or service road, the focus shifts more sharply to the truck driver’s conduct.

We also don’t know anything about the conditions at the time of the crash. What was the lighting like in that area? Were the truck’s headlights functioning properly? Was the driver alert, distracted, speeding or possibly fatigued? These are all factors that can affect a truck’s ability to avoid a pedestrian, even when the pedestrian shouldn’t be there.

These kinds of cases often hinge on evidence beyond the crash scene itself. For example:

• Engine control module (ECM) data, the truck’s “black box," can tell us how fast the driver was going, whether they braked and how long before impact.
• In-cab cameras, if present, might show whether the driver was looking at the road or distracted.
• Driver cell phone records can reveal whether they were texting or on a call in the moments leading up to the crash.
• Dash cam footage, which many rigs now have, might provide the clearest look at what the driver saw, or should have seen.

Absent that kind of documentation, it’s difficult to fairly assess whether this crash was truly unavoidable or if someone made a preventable mistake. I’ve handled many cases where what initially appeared to be a random accident turned out, after careful investigation, to involve poor decision-making, weak hiring practices or a lack of oversight from the trucking company. For example, I once handled a case where a driver ran over a pedestrian because he was adjusting his GPS and never even looked up. We only knew that because the cab camera captured the whole thing.

Without more facts, no one can say for certain who is at fault here. But a thorough investigation, not just a quick glance at a police report, is the only way to find out. If the evidence shows the truck driver did everything right, that matters. But if something was missed, someone should answer for it.

Key Takeaways:

• The exact circumstances of the crash, including the pedestrian’s location and the truck driver’s actions, remain unknown.
• No charges have been filed, but that doesn’t rule out preventable errors. It just means the investigation may not be complete.
• Evidence such as ECM data, in-cab footage and cell phone records could clarify what happened.
• A proper legal investigation looks beyond the crash scene to uncover the full chain of responsibility.
• Determining fault isn’t about blame. It’s about accountability based on verifiable facts.