Peter Smith Killed in Wheeler County Big Rig Crash on Interstate 40

Wheeler County, Texas (January 1, 2020) – One person was killed, and another was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday in Wheeler County, east of Shamrock, according to a local news source.

The fatal crash happened around 12:15 p.m., December 31, on I-40.

DPS said Peter Smith, 41, of Clifton Springs, New York, was driving a 2020 Freightliner when he veered across the center median and into the eastbound lanes where he hit a 2014 Kenworth driven by Alan Andrascik, 48 of Indiana, Penn.

The impact caused the Freightliner to roll over onto its passenger side across both lanes of I-40 East. The Kenworth also rolled onto its passenger side and into the barrow ditch.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, Darrien Quagliata, 25, also of Clifton Springs, was airlifted to a Lubbock hospital with serious injuries.

Andrascik was taken to Shamrock General Hospital with minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.