Ellis County, TX — December 12, 2025, Valeria Ovalle was injured as the result of an 18-wheeler accident at around 9:09 a.m. along I-45.

According to authorities, the crash happened at the south end of Ferris at the I-45 and Business I-45 split.

Investigators say that 18-year-old Valeria Ovalle was in a Chevy Silverado going southbound along the interstate. A Freightliner tractor-trailer was going the same direction. Authorities allege that the truck made an unsafe lane change. This reportedly led to the vehicles colliding.

As a result, Valeria Ovalle reportedly sustained serious injuries. Authorities recommended citing the truck driver. Currently, additional details about the accident are unavailable.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

People might see reports of citations for the truck driver and think the matter is open-and-shut. However, these situations aren't just about who police say is responsible the crash. Victims and families need evidence telling their side of the story. Preserving as much of that evidence early on, then, should always be a top priority. The challenge is that authorities don't always do this on their own. Without prompt action to have independent investigators look over a crash, important evidence may disappear.

Let me give an example. I had a case not too long ago involving a commercial truck. Something that immediately stood out to me was that the police let the trucking company take their truck from the crash scene. There was no inspection of the vehicle, no analysis of the truck's ECM data, no checking for cameras on the truck, nothing. Officers simply let the trucking company drive the most crucial piece of evidence away from the scene unchecked. That would be like letting a murder suspect back into a crime scene without any kind of supervision.

Fortunately, we were able to contact the trucking company and issue a letter of spoliation. Essentially, this reminds companies of their legal duty to preserve evidence relating to a crash. They can face serious consequences if they fail to uphold this duty. We did so just in the nick of time.

As it turned out, the truck was due for repairs that very day. Basically, those repairs would have erased key evidence relating to the crash. In other words, authorities letting the company take their truck from the scene almost irreparably damaged a family's opportunity to see accountability for the harm done to them. Had it not been for the quick action of the family to seek out professionals, it's very likely that evidence never would have seen the light of day.

Ultimately, it could be that authorities here were diligent enough to preserve evidence and to keep the vehicles in a safe, neutral location until they could be examined by experienced specialists. However, it's sadly common for officers to make their conclusions at the scene, then let evidence scatter to the wind. Every moment counts after a serious 18-wheeler accident. That's why it's important to prioritize securing evidence after an accident. Then, there can be steps to see there's accountability for those responsible.