1 Killed, 1 Injured in Truck Accident on U.S. Route 223 near Riga, MI

Lenawee County, MI — October 1, 2025, one person was killed and another was injured in an afternoon truck accident on U.S. Route 223 east of Riga.

Authorities said a Tesla collided with an eastbound semi-truck near Rodesiler Highway. The smaller vehicle got stuck under the truck, and both vehicles caught fire.

The Tesla driver, a 45-year-old Blissfield man, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. His name has not been made public yet.

The truck driver, a 63-year-old Findlay man, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, the report states.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Lenawee County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a car getting wedged underneath a semi-truck and both vehicles catching fire, a natural question arises: How does that even happen? That’s not something most folks see every day, and without more details, it’s hard to make sense of what led to such a catastrophic outcome.

What we know so far is that a Tesla and an eastbound semi-truck collided on U.S. 223 near Rodesiler Highway, and the smaller vehicle ended up stuck underneath the truck. Both caught fire. The driver of the Tesla died at the scene, and the truck driver was hospitalized with injuries that were said to be non-life-threatening. Beyond that, authorities have not released any real detail about how the collision occurred.

Here’s the problem: without more information, we’re missing the key facts that would explain how and why this happened. Was the truck changing lanes? Did it make a wide turn? Was the Tesla attempting to pass or merging? Depending on who was moving and how, entirely different legal questions come into play.

For instance, was the truck already in motion, or was it stopped or slowing down when the Tesla approached? If the semi was slowing down, it’s possible the Tesla driver didn’t react in time. But if the truck suddenly merged or turned across the Tesla’s path, that’s a very different scenario. At this point, we just don’t know.

And this isn’t just guesswork. It’s the kind of uncertainty that a proper investigation is supposed to clear up. That starts with evidence, not opinions. The truck’s engine control module can provide data on speed, braking and throttle use in the moments before impact. If the truck had in-cab cameras, they may show what the driver was doing, or failing to do, right before the crash. The Tesla likely had similar technology, which could help confirm who had the right of way and when.

Phone records and GPS data are also key. Was either driver distracted? Did one make an unexpected maneuver? These are answerable questions, but they require someone to ask, and have the legal authority to demand, the evidence.

One more issue worth noting: when a smaller vehicle ends up underneath a semi-truck, underride may be a factor. Whether the trailer had side underride guards, and whether they were properly installed and maintained, could matter depending on how the impact occurred. Again, that’s something a detailed examination of the wreckage would reveal.

Having litigated cases involving vehicle fires and underride scenarios, I can say this much: the truth doesn’t come from surface-level reports. It comes from black box data, maintenance logs, driver background checks and forensic vehicle inspections. Until those facts are gathered and analyzed, all we have are pieces of a story that doesn’t yet add up.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s unclear from public reports how the Tesla ended up under the semi-truck, which makes assigning responsibility premature.
• Critical evidence — including ECM data, in-cab footage and phone records — must be reviewed to understand what led to the crash.
• Whether the truck was turning, merging or stationary at the time of the crash could significantly change the legal implications.
• The presence or absence of underride protection could become relevant, depending on how the vehicles collided.
• Only a full investigation can determine who should be held accountable and why.