Sterling Heights, MI — December 6, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 11:45 p.m. in the 34000 block of Mound Road.

Authorities said a Chevrolet Malibu was heading north when it collided with a semi-truck that was stopped at a red light near Sterling Drive.

The Chevrolet driver, a 30-year-old Warren woman, died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to authorities.

The truck driver was not hurt, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Macomb County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a car hit the back of a stopped semi-truck, the immediate question that comes to mind is: How could someone not see an 18-wheeler at a red light? That’s a fair question, but it doesn’t mean we should automatically assume the driver of the car was at fault. From my experience, rear-end collisions involving trucks often turn out to be more complicated than they first appear.

For one, it’s not clear whether the truck was fully in its lane or if it might have been partially blocking traffic. Depending on how the trailer was positioned, especially at night, it’s possible it wasn’t visible until it was too late. I’ve handled cases where trailers didn’t have proper lighting or reflective markings, making them effectively invisible in low light.

Another question is: How fast was the Chevrolet going, and was the driver distracted? We won’t know that until phone records are reviewed. But we also need to ask what role the truck’s equipment and the driver’s actions played. That means looking at the truck’s black box data to see when and how it stopped. Did the truck come to a sudden stop in front of oncoming traffic? Was it there longer than it should’ve been, maybe stalled or illegally parked? Those are critical facts that often get overlooked in the early reporting.

It’s also worth asking: Was the truck properly maintained, and were all its lights working? Even a stopped truck can be deadly if it’s not clearly visible. Investigators should examine whether its tail lights, brake lights and reflective tape were in good working order. If something failed, or if the company had a history of skipping inspections, that matters.

Finally, the trucking company’s hiring and training practices deserve scrutiny. Was this driver properly vetted? Did the company provide adequate training on how to position the vehicle at intersections or on dark roads? I’ve handled cases where a company’s poor oversight played a much larger role than anyone expected at first glance.

We don’t yet know all the facts in this case. But what we do know is that a thorough investigation — looking beyond the surface — will be the only way to determine who’s responsible and why this crash happened.

Key Takeaways:

  • A rear-end crash into a stopped truck raises questions about lighting, visibility and trailer positioning.
  • Black box data, dash cams and maintenance records are essential to understanding what really happened.
  • Visibility at night is a critical safety factor. Trucks must be properly marked and illuminated.
  • The truck driver’s actions and the company’s hiring/training practices may be relevant to assigning responsibility.
  • A full investigation is needed before anyone can draw conclusions about fault.

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