Jacqueline Smith Died In Brenham Car Accident Involving Tow Truck On Highway 105
BRENHAM, TEXAS (September 13, 2022) – A 58-year-old woman identified as Jacqueline Smith died in a Brenham head-on tow truck accident on Highway 105.
Washington County officials are saying that the accident took place around 7:00 a.m. on Thursday. A 20-year-old driver in a tow truck allowed his vehicle to drift into opposing lanes of traffic before hitting a vehicle driven by Jacqueline Smith.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Jacqueline Smith was airlifted by Washington County EMS with critical injuries.
Sadly, she was pronounced dead following the crash. A full investigation into the head-on collision remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Brenham Car Accidents
Head-on collisions are particularly dangerous. They account for a relatively small percentage of total collisions but over 11% of all traffic fatalities. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, “Fatalities in traffic crashes in rural areas of [Texas] accounted for 50.98% of the state’s traffic fatalities. There were 1,986 deaths in rural traffic crashes.” The vast majority of car accidents involved some amount of human error.
- Nearly one third of fatal collisions involve a speeding driver.
- Many collisions are due to drivers that are distracted.
- Poor road conditions are another major contributing factor for collisions.
All drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid hitting other vehicles. Pursuant to Texas Transportation Code Sec. 545.051, it is illegal for any driver in Texas to cross into opposing lanes of traffic except under a very limited set of circumstances. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that crosses into opposing lanes of traffic prior to a crash.
If the driver of a tow truck was working prior to a crash, their employer could be held at fault. Companies will typically be vicariously liable for the tortious actions of their employees. However, those employees must have been working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a tow truck driver may have been on their way to pick up a vehicle when they crashed. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any tow truck accident.
- The purpose of the tow truck driver’s trip should be determined.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any person that is killed in a car accident may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, companies will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any collision. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Brenham Tow Truck Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jacqueline Smith. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim’s family.
Do you need more information about a Brenham tow truck accident? Our team of consumer safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We can examine your specific incident and get to the bottom of what happened. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
