Centerville, TX — July 8, 2025, one person was injured in a truck accident at about 5:40 p.m. on southbound Interstate 45.

Authorities said a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle collided near mile marker 160.

One person, whose name has not been made public yet, was flown to a Bryan hospital with unspecified injuries after being extricated from the wrecked vehicle, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

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

Commentary

When folks hear that a passenger vehicle collided with an 18-wheeler on I-45 and left someone hospitalized, they naturally want to know: How did this happen? At the moment, authorities haven’t provided any insight into the circumstances that led to this crash, so we’re left with more questions than answers.

The location, mile marker 160 near Centerville, doesn’t tell us whether the semi was moving or stopped, merging or changing lanes, or even whether the smaller vehicle may have played a role. That matters, because different facts point to different parties potentially being at fault. For example, if the truck merged into the car’s lane, that would raise very different questions than if the car struck a stopped or broken-down truck.

What we do know is that one person had to be extricated and flown to a hospital. That suggests a high-impact collision. When that happens with an 18-wheeler involved, it’s essential to secure the truck’s electronic data before it’s overwritten or lost. The truck’s engine control module, its “black box," can show speed, braking and throttle input in the moments leading up to the crash. Dash cams or in-cab cameras, if installed, might also capture whether the truck driver was distracted, fatigued, or driving aggressively.

Beyond the driver’s behavior, there are other critical areas to examine. Was the driver properly trained and screened? Was the company following hiring and scheduling procedures that put a safe driver behind the wheel at a reasonable time? In one of my past cases, a trucking company hired a driver who had already been let go from multiple prior jobs and put her on the road after a 20-minute “road test.” Predictably, she caused a crash that never should have happened. I bring that up because the conduct of the company often matters as much, if not more, than the actions of the driver.

Until more facts are known, it’s impossible to assign blame. But one thing is already clear: anyone trying to get to the bottom of what happened will need more than just a police report. It takes a thorough investigation to determine who should be held accountable, and why.

Key Takeaways:

• It's not yet clear how the crash between the semi and passenger vehicle occurred or who may be responsible.
• The severity of the crash warrants collecting ECM data, dash cam footage and cell phone records to reconstruct events.
• Responsibility may lie with the truck driver, the company that employed them or even other unknown factors, depending on what evidence reveals.
• Proper training, driver screening and equipment maintenance are often overlooked but critical components in truck crash cases.
• A full investigation is necessary before any meaningful conclusions about fault can be drawn.