A fatal crash involving a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck in Coryell County, Texas has left a young woman dead and prompted an investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Collisions involving large commercial trucks often result in devastating consequences because of the enormous size and weight difference between passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers.
According to authorities, the crash occurred on the evening of March 3, 2026, along Farm-to-Market Road 116 near mile marker 376. Investigators continue working to determine exactly how the collision occurred and whether any traffic violations or safety failures contributed to the incident.
Serious crashes involving commercial trucks frequently raise complex legal questions about liability, roadway safety, and whether trucking companies followed required safety procedures.
Details of the Fatal FM 116 Crash
The Texas Department of Public Safety reported that troopers responded to a major collision around 8:07 p.m. on March 3.
Authorities say a Kia Soul driven by 22-year-old Yasmin Lee Barrientos of Waco was traveling northbound on FM 116 when the vehicle struck the left rear quarter of a trailer being pulled by a semi-truck.
Investigators reported that the truck tractor was pulling onto FM 116 from a nearby loading yard at the time of the collision. The precise sequence of events leading up to the crash remains under investigation.
Barrientos suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Crashes involving tractor-trailers can unfold in seconds but often require extensive investigation. Officials typically review vehicle positioning, driver actions, and roadway conditions. An official accident report compiled by responding officers often becomes an important early piece of documentation when determining what happened and whether violations occurred.
Why Collisions With Semi-Trucks Are Often Deadly
Large commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, compared with the roughly 3,000 to 4,000 pounds of a typical passenger vehicle. Because of that enormous weight difference, a collision between a car and a semi-truck often results in severe or fatal injuries for occupants of the smaller vehicle.
In many serious crashes, victims suffer serious and catastrophic injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain trauma
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe internal bleeding
- Multiple fractures
- Burn injuries in cases involving fires or explosions
Even when victims survive the initial crash, the injuries can require months or years of medical treatment, surgeries, and rehabilitation.
Risks of 18-Wheeler Accidents in Central Texas
Highways and rural roads across Texas frequently carry heavy commercial truck traffic. Farm-to-Market roads like FM 116 often connect industrial areas, agricultural operations, and distribution centers, which means trucks regularly enter and exit these roadways.
These conditions can increase the risks of 18-wheeler accidents in Waco and surrounding communities.
When large trucks enter roadways from private driveways, loading yards, or industrial facilities, drivers must ensure it is safe to merge into traffic. Because trailers are long and slow to accelerate, improper entry into a roadway can create a dangerous situation for approaching vehicles.
In many truck collision investigations, safety experts examine whether the truck driver properly yielded the right of way before entering traffic.
Common Causes of Semi-Truck Collisions
Crashes involving commercial trucks can occur for many reasons. Investigators will typically review a wide range of possible contributing factors.
Failure to Yield When Entering a Roadway
When trucks pull onto highways or rural roads from private property or loading yards, drivers must ensure that the roadway is clear. If a truck enters traffic without adequate clearance, it can create an unavoidable hazard for oncoming vehicles.
Visibility Limitations
Long trailers can block a driver’s line of sight, especially when exiting industrial facilities or yards. If visibility is limited, drivers must proceed cautiously and wait until it is safe to enter the roadway.
Driver Fatigue
Long hours behind the wheel can impair a driver’s judgment and reaction time. Federal safety rules exist to limit how long commercial drivers can operate vehicles before taking mandatory rest breaks. Violations of hours of service regulations have been linked to many serious truck crashes.
Distracted Driving
Truck drivers may become distracted by navigation systems, dispatch communication, mobile devices, or other in-cab activities. Even a momentary lapse in attention can have devastating consequences when operating a large commercial vehicle.
Inadequate Training or Experience
Commercial drivers must undergo specialized training before operating tractor-trailers. If a company allows inexperienced drivers to operate heavy trucks without proper training, it may significantly increase the risk of crashes.
How Investigators Determine What Happened
After a fatal collision involving a semi-truck, investigators often conduct a detailed reconstruction of the crash. This process can involve analyzing vehicle damage, roadway markings, witness statements, and electronic data.
Experts may perform crash reconstruction to determine:
- Vehicle speeds before impact
- The precise angle and location of impact
- Driver reaction times
- Whether braking occurred before the collision
Investigators may also examine the truck’s onboard electronic data recorders and other documentation maintained by the trucking company.
Evidence That May Be Important in a Truck Accident Investigation
Determining responsibility in a fatal truck crash often requires collecting and preserving multiple forms of documentation.
Important evidence can include:
- Driver logs and hours-of-service records
- Truck maintenance records
- Dispatch instructions and communications
- Dashcam or nearby surveillance video
- Witness statements
- Scene photographs and roadway measurements
In many cases, attorneys will send a preservation letter to ensure that trucking companies do not destroy or overwrite critical records.
Legal Issues That Can Arise After a Fatal Truck Crash
Fatal truck collisions frequently involve complicated legal questions about liability. Several different parties may be responsible depending on the circumstances.
Potentially liable parties can include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company that employed the driver
- A shipping or logistics company that scheduled the delivery
- Maintenance contractors responsible for vehicle upkeep
- Property owners where trucks enter roadways
Texas law also recognizes the concept of vicarious liability, meaning employers may be responsible for negligent actions committed by employees during the course of their work duties.
Damages That May Be Available After a Fatal Crash
When someone is killed in a collision involving a commercial truck, surviving family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim under Texas law. Families may also pursue compensation through a survival claim.
Compensation in serious injury and fatal accident cases often includes financial losses and non-economic damages for pain, suffering, and emotional harm.
The Role of Expert Witnesses in Truck Accident Cases
Complex truck accident litigation frequently relies on specialists who can analyze technical details and explain them to a jury.
An expert witness may help evaluate:
- Truck driver training and safety compliance
- Accident reconstruction and vehicle dynamics
- Medical causes of injury or death
- Industry safety standards and regulations
Contact Spagnoletti Law Firm for Help After a Fatal Truck Crash
Fatal crashes involving commercial trucks often leave families facing overwhelming grief, unanswered questions, and significant financial burdens.
Spagnoletti Law Firm has experience investigating serious truck crashes and other catastrophic incidents. Our accident attorneys work with accident reconstruction experts and investigators to identify responsible parties and preserve critical evidence.
Our firm handles these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning families do not pay legal fees unless a recovery is obtained.
If your family has lost a loved one in a crash involving a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle, call Spagnoletti Law Firm at 713-804-9306 to discuss your situation and request a confidential consultation.
You may also contact us online to request more information about your legal options.