Update (July 25, 2025): Authorities have identified the driver killed in this accident as Vernon Anderson.

Houston, TX — July 17, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 3:30 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 10/East Freeway.

Authorities said a pickup crashed into the back of a semi-truck near Waco Street, pinning the driver in the vehicle.

The pickup driver, whose name has not been made public yet, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Harris County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a pickup crashes into the back of a semi-truck, especially in the early hours of the morning, most people naturally assume the pickup driver must have been at fault. But that assumption skips over the most important question: Why was the 18-wheeler in that position to begin with? Was it moving slowly in traffic, recently stopped or parked illegally on the highway? Right now, there’s no public information to answer that.

Depending on the semi's position and speed, the legal questions change significantly. If the truck was stopped or nearly stopped in a live lane of traffic without hazard lights or proper reflective markers, that raises serious concerns about visibility and proper safety protocol. If it was moving, we need to ask whether it was going unusually slow for freeway conditions at 3:30 a.m.

The only way to get clarity is through hard evidence. That includes:

• Dash camera footage (from the truck and nearby traffic cameras if available),
• ECM data (the truck's "black box" that records speed, braking and throttle usage),
• Driver logs and hours-of-service records, to check for fatigue or hours violations,
• And even cell phone records to rule out distraction on either side.

The crash reportedly pinned the pickup driver in the vehicle. That detail could point to how fast the pickup was traveling, but it might also signal that the truck was essentially stationary at the time of impact. If that turns out to be the case, we’re looking at a very different kind of legal issue than just "rear-end collision equals the pickup's fault."

In one case I worked, a truck had pulled to a stop on the shoulder, but part of its trailer was jutting into the lane. A young man clipped it and died instantly, and at first everyone blamed him. But once we got the truck’s black box and confirmed its position, it became clear that the real story wasn’t the one told in the first police report. That’s why assuming fault based on who hit whom is a mistake. The truth is almost always more complicated, and it’s hidden in the details only a thorough investigation can uncover.

Key Takeaways:

• It's still unclear whether the truck was moving, stopped or parked when the crash occurred, and that distinction matters greatly.
• Rear-end crashes involving 18-wheelers aren't automatically the fault of the driver who crashes into the back; fault depends on the truck’s position and visibility.
• Black box data, dash cams and driver logs are essential to understanding what really happened.
• Investigators must consider not only the driver's behavior, but also the trucking company’s safety procedures and maintenance records.
• Real accountability depends on collecting every piece of available evidence, not speculation or early assumptions.