A semi-trailer traveling west on I-10 near FM 365 slammed into the back of a disabled box truck sitting in the outside lane at roughly 6:20 a.m. Friday, killing a 38-year-old woman from Honduras who was riding in the box truck and sending two other men to the hospital. The crash happened in Jefferson County, where investigators spent the day piecing together how the collision unfolded.
According to The Examiner, the box truck had already broken down in the outside lane when the semi-trailer struck its rear end. The woman riding in the box truck died in the crash, the outlet reported. The truck's driver, 43-year-old Maynor Leonel Mejia of Honduras, and a second passenger, 33-year-old Luis Meza-Ramos, 33, were both transported to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment of injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The driver of the semi-trailer, 66-year-old Vebi Vehapi of Missouri, was not hurt in the collision, per the same report. The Texas Department of Public Safety has not released the identity of the woman who died.
Conflicting Reports on Where the Crash Happened
Not every account of Friday's wreck agrees on the location. While The Examiner's reporting places the fatal crash in Jefferson County, Fox 4's detailed account also identifies the crash near FM 365 as a Jefferson County collision; its opening separately mentions a fatal crash in Newton County.
The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed it is investigating the fatal wreck, according to The Examiner's reporting. The investigation into exactly how the crash unfolded was still active as of Friday, with no timeline given for when it might wrap up.
What the Law Says About Disabled Trucks on the Highway
Federal trucking regulations spell out specific steps drivers are supposed to take when a commercial vehicle breaks down on a highway. Under federal motor carrier regulations, a driver whose commercial vehicle is stopped on the traveled portion or shoulder of a divided or one-way highway is required to place warning devices at set distances from the vehicle, including one 200 feet away and another 100 feet away.
State law also addresses when a vehicle is permitted to stop on a roadway. Texas Transportation Code provisions cited by the Texas Legislature cover situations where a disabled vehicle may slow or stop because traffic or other circumstances prevent it from safely moving to the shoulder. No charges, citations, or fault determinations tied to Friday's crash have been reported.
No Word Yet on Cause
Beyond the sequence of the collision itself, specifics about the crash remain unconfirmed. Details such as road conditions, lighting, or the speeds involved have not been independently verified in reporting on the incident. DPS has not released further updates on the investigation's progress since confirming it was underway.
