High-Speed Accident with 18-Wheeler Leaves Driver Dead, BMW in Flames

According to a KSAT News report, a man is dead after crashing into the back of an 18-wheeler on U.S. 281 this week.

Police reported the accident happened at around 3:15 a.m. on October 13th, on U.S. Highway 281 Southbound near Thousand Oaks Drive. A BMW was reportedly speeding when it struck the back of an 18-wheeler, bursting into flames. EMS pronounced the driver dead at the scene. No other vehicles were involved, and no other injuries were reported. The driver of the BMW was later identified as 24-year-old Trent Waldrip.

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Did You Know?

There have been 486 fatal crashes involving an 18-wheeler so far in Texas in 2024.

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Speeding and Car Accidents in Texas: An Overview

250,335 people were injured in car accidents in Texas in 2023.

One of the most common contributing factors to car accidents is speeding — experts estimate that roughly 1/3 of all fatal traffic accidents are caused by speeding drivers. This is true across every state, but speeding in Texas is particularly common. There were 161,752 crashes involving at least one speeding driver in 2023 and 2,653 accidents directly caused by a speeding driver.

Speeding not only makes car accidents more likely but also increases the severity of the accident.

How Does Speeding Contribute to Car Accidents?

According to the IIHS, there are multiple ways speeding increases the risk and severity of accidents, including:

• It increases the distance a vehicle travels from the time a driver detects an emergency to the time the driver reacts (reduced reaction times).
• It increases the distance needed to stop a vehicle once the driver starts to brake (increased stopping distance).
• It increases the risk that an evasive steering maneuver will result in loss of control (loss of control risk increased).
• It increases crash energy disproportionately. For example, when impact speed increases from 40 to 60 mph (a 50% increase), the energy that needs to be managed increases by 125%. This additional energy needs to be absorbed and dissipated, challenging the vehicle structure and increasing the likelihood of severe injuries (disproportionate impact increase).

Severe Injuries Caused by Speeding

Relatively minor injuries such as whiplash and bruising are common in a car accident — however, when excessive speed is involved, the severity of injuries increases to include things like:

• TBI,
• Spinal Cord Injuries,
• Fractures,
• Crushing Injuries,
• Severe Burns,
• Amputation,
• And More.

Who Speeds?

While speeding is common across Texas, certain groups are more likely to speed than others.

Age

For both males and females, younger drivers are more likely to speed. The two most likely age groups to speed are:

• Ages 15 to 20,
• And Ages 21 to 24.

Gender

Men are more likely to speed than women across all age groups. For the two youngest age groups, fatal accidents that involved speeding included:

• 19% Female Drivers,
• 32% Male Drivers.

Drunk Drivers

Particularly among the age group of 25 to 34, drunk drivers are particularly likely to speed.

• 27% of drivers under 21 were drunk when involved in fatal speeding accidents,
• 41% of the 21 to 50 age group were drunk when involved in fatal speeding accidents.

Data retrieved from the NCS Injury Facts website.

Roadway Conditions and Speeding

Severe injury and fatality are far more likely when speeding during certain road conditions, such as:

• Mud, dirt, or gravel roads (44%)
• Wet roads (21%)
• Ice or frost (41%)
• Roads with moving or standing water (39%)

Injured by a Speeding Driver in Texas? Call Shaw.

Whether you were a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, you may be entitled to compensation for things like:

• Ambulance Costs,
• ER Treatment,
• Surgeries,
• TBI, 
• Medical Bills,
• Trauma/PTSD,
• Property Damage,
• Wrongful Death,
• And More.

We’ll help you find out if you have a case for free.

Call Shaw for your car accident at 800-862-1260 to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys. No fees, no obligations, just expert legal advice. We look forward to serving you.

¹KSAT Report

²IIHS

³NCS