When Commercial Trucks Collide: Fatal Crash Liability in Taylor County

A fatal wreck in Taylor County this week has been a hard reminder of what can happen when a commercial driver makes a terrible mistake. At the intersection of County Road 54 and State Highway 351 in Taylor County, a semi-truck driver hauling gravel ran a stop sign, struck a pickup truck, and killed 26-year-old Adam Lee Reyna of Mission, Texas, just before 5:00 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon. The driver, Miguel Angel Casanova of Saint Cloud, Florida, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter after investigators determined he was impaired by a medication overdose. For Mr. Reyna’s family, nothing will undo his loss. No lawsuit or criminal punishment will bring him back. But for Taylor County and the Big Country, reckless drivers and the companies that employ them must be held accountable. Our community has watched as more and more commercial trucks roll through county roads as large-scale AI infrastructure projects reshape the Big Country. This is a sobering reminder of a risk that is growing and cannot be ignored. 

At The Law Firm of Chaile Allen, cases like this one are taken deeply personally. Chaile has spent 15 years serving injury victims and grieving families across West Texas, including in Taylor, Nolan, Scurry, and Coleman Counties. Chaile understands that the legal system cannot return what a family has lost, but it can ensure those responsible are held accountable, and that families are not left to carry the financial consequences of someone else’s negligence alone. When truck accidents involve commercial drivers working for subcontractors on large construction projects, the legal questions are more layered than they might first appear, and understanding them can change everything for a grieving family.

More Commercial Trucks, More Risk on Rural Roads

Anyone who drives around Taylor County can see the change. There are more gravel trucks, flatbeds, and heavy commercial vehicles on county roads and state highways than there used to be. Much of that traffic is tied to major construction activity in the region, including large infrastructure and data-related projects.

The problem is that many of these roads are narrow, have limited visibility, and were not designed to handle constant industrial traffic. Intersections controlled by stop signs, short sightlines, and minimal shoulders can already be dangerous. Add heavier truck traffic to the mix, and the odds of a serious crash go up.

That is not just common sense. Large truck crashes kill thousands of people across the country every year. When that kind of national problem starts showing up more often on local rural roads, families in West Texas need to understand what is at stake and what legal options may be available after a crash.

In a fatal commercial truck wreck, the case is often bigger than the driver alone.

If the driver was impaired, poorly trained, unqualified, or pushed onto the road by a contractor or subcontractor that cut corners, there may be multiple parties who share responsibility. In cases tied to construction projects, one of the first questions is who actually employed the driver and who controlled the work being done.

That usually requires a close look at more than just the crash report. It may involve driver logs, hiring records, drug or medication policies, insurance policies, company communications, and the contracts connecting the driver to the broader project.

Wrongful Death Claims in Texas

When a person is killed because of someone else’s negligence, certain surviving family members may have the right to bring a wrongful death claim under Texas law. That civil claim is separate from any criminal prosecution.

A civil case can never make a family whole, but it can help address the real financial and personal damage caused by a loss like this. That may include funeral expenses, lost income and support, loss of companionship, and other damages recognized under Texas law.

Just because there is a criminal case does not mean the civil side will take care of itself. These are separate processes, and families should not assume that prosecutors are handling the issues that matter most to them financially.

Potential Claims Against Employers and Contractors

Texas law may allow claims not only against the driver, but also against the company behind the truck.

Depending on the facts, that can include claims based on negligent hiring, negligent supervision, negligent entrustment, or vicarious liability. Put simply, if a company puts an unsafe driver in a commercial vehicle, fails to properly screen or supervise that driver, or is legally responsible for the driver’s conduct while on the job, that company may be on the hook, too.

This becomes especially important in subcontractor situations. On paper, one company may claim the driver was someone else’s responsibility. In reality, the contract chain may show that several entities played a role in putting that truck on the road.

That is why early investigation matters.

• Criminal charges and civil claims: A criminal prosecution against the driver does not prevent a separate civil case for wrongful death or personal injury.
• Negligent entrustment: If a company let an impaired, unsafe, or unfit driver operate a commercial vehicle, that company may face direct liability.
• Vicarious liability: If the driver was acting in the course and scope of the job, the employer may be legally responsible for the harm caused.
• Commercial insurance coverage: Commercial policies often provide higher coverage limits than ordinary auto policies, which can make a major difference in a serious injury or wrongful death case.

Families should not try to sort through those issues on their own while they are grieving. The sooner the facts are preserved and the right entities are identified, the better.

Helping Families After Serious Truck Wrecks in West Texas

Cases like this hit hard in West Texas because they are not abstract. These are our roads, our communities, and our families. And as commercial traffic increases across Taylor County and the surrounding area, these crashes are becoming harder to ignore.

I have represented injured people and grieving families across West Texas for years, including in Taylor, Nolan, Scurry, and Coleman Counties. I know these roads, I know how these cases work, and I know that families need straight answers when something like this happens.

If you have lost someone in a commercial truck crash or if you were seriously hurt in one, it is important to get legal advice early. An investigation should begin before records disappear, memories fade, and companies start protecting themselves.

If you need help after a serious truck wreck, contact Chaile for a free consultation. We will talk through what happened, explain your options, and help you figure out what comes next.