Oklahoma City, OK — November 20, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 6:10 p.m. on southbound Interstate 35.
Authorities said a car was trying to pass another vehicle out on the outside near NE 50th Street when it crashed into a parked semi-truck.
The driver, whose name has not been made public yet, died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to authorities.
No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Oklahoma County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people read about a crash like this, the first question that comes to mind is often, “How does something like that even happen?” And that’s exactly the right question to ask.
On the surface, it may seem simple: one vehicle veered off and hit another that wasn’t moving. But that doesn’t answer the bigger issue: why did the collision happen in the first place? And was that parked 18-wheeler truly in a place it was supposed to be?
According to the limited information currently available, the car was trying to pass another vehicle on the outside when it collided with a semi-truck that was parked on the side of the road. But it’s not clear whether the truck was pulled over due to mechanical failure, driver fatigue or something else. It’s also not clear whether it had its hazard lights on, reflective triangles deployed or if it was partially in the travel lane.
Each of those unknowns matters a great deal. Under federal law, if a truck breaks down on the highway, the driver must take specific steps to warn approaching drivers, like placing reflective warning devices within 10 minutes. Failing to follow those steps can make a parked truck incredibly dangerous, especially in low-light conditions like the early evening hour when this crash occurred.
Then there’s the question of visibility. Was it dark enough that lighting or lack thereof played a role? Did the truck’s placement create a hazard even though it was technically off the roadway? These are not hypothetical concerns. They’re questions that should be answered through dash cam footage, ECM data and forensic review of the crash scene.
I’ve worked on cases where trucks were parked just a foot or two too far into the shoulder, and that small error made the difference between life and death. I’ve also seen situations where poor lighting, missing warning devices or even driver distraction on the part of the passing vehicle all contributed. The point is you can’t determine responsibility without a full investigation.
Right now, it’s too early to know whether the trucker, the motorist or both made critical errors. What’s needed is a methodical look at every piece of available evidence, because that’s how the truth comes out. Not from assumptions or initial reports, but from data.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s unclear why the semi-truck was parked on the shoulder of I-35 or whether it followed all required safety protocols.
- The cause of the crash hinges on unanswered questions about the truck’s placement, visibility and any warning devices.
- Critical evidence like dash cam footage, black box data and crash scene analysis will help determine what really happened.
- Responsibility may not lie with just one party. Getting the full picture requires a thorough, independent investigation.
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