JUNCTION, TX (02/21/2016) — A two-vehicle accident involving an 18-wheeler killed Mark Tenniswood on Sunday night.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, 49-year-old Mark Arthur Tenniswood (of Odessa) lost his life after his pickup truck was struck by an 18-wheeler on Interstate 10, about 11 miles east of Junction, Texas.
The DPS reported that at around 7:30 p.m., Tenniswood was traveling westbound in a 2003 Ford F-150 when he lost control of his vehicle, struck a guardrail, and rolled his pickup truck. The vehicle came to rest on its right side, across the roadway, facing south. Reports state that Tenniswood was uninjured in the initial rollover accident.
Before Tenniswood was able to exit his vehicle, a 2013 Freightliner semi-trailer—driven by 35-year-old Donnie Graig Fussell—collided with the center of the F-150. It was reported that the driver of the 18-wheeler “failed to see the truck” lying across the roadway.
Tenniswood was ejected in this second collision. Authorities stated that Tenniswood was pronounced dead at the scene. Fussell was injured in the accident, but his current condition was not available.
The DPS reported that road conditions were wet and rainy at the time of the crash.
Commentary
When roadways are affected by inclement weather, drivers should slow down and drive to conditions. In this case (as reported) the truck driver did not simply have trouble stopping; he had trouble even seeing the disabled vehicle on the road ahead of him. If visibility was affected that drastically by rain, the smart and prudent thing to do would be to pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Of course, there could be other reasons the driver did not see the other vehicle.
As the official investigation has not yet been completed, we don’t know if weather even had any effect on this accident. Initial accident reports are often lacking information, and we understand the importance of the accident investigation/reconstruction process.
