Alton, MO — July 10, 2025, One person was injured following a car accident that occurred at around 5:30 P.M. on US Highway 160.
According to official statements, a Kenworth tractor-trailer operated by a 43-year-old man was traveling on US Highway 160, when it drifted off the road. The truck then over-corrected causing it to leave the roadway where its truck a fence and overturned.
When first responders arrived on the scene they found that the driver had sustained serious injuries and he was transported to the hospital where his current condition is unknown. No other vehicles were involved in the crash and this remains an ongoing investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a single-vehicle crash involving an 18-wheeler makes the news, people understandably want to know: how does something like this happen? Was it driver error, a mechanical failure, or something else entirely? In this case, all we know so far is that a semi-truck drifted off US Highway 160, the driver over-corrected, and the truck ended up off the road, overturning after hitting a fence. But that summary leaves a lot unsaid—and a lot worth investigating.
First, it’s not clear why the truck drifted off the roadway in the first place. Was the driver distracted, drowsy, or dealing with a medical issue? Could something have gone wrong with the truck itself—such as a blown tire or mechanical failure? These aren’t idle questions. They’re exactly the kinds of issues that need to be sorted out with real evidence.
One of the most effective ways to get those answers is by examining what data the truck was collecting at the time of the crash. Most modern semis are equipped with engine control modules (ECMs), which are basically black boxes that record vehicle speed, steering input, braking, and more. Some trucks also have inward- and outward-facing cameras that can show what the driver was doing in the seconds before a crash.
Another key step is reviewing the driver’s phone records. Was he texting, talking, or using an app at the time the truck left the road? If the ECM and the phone records line up, that paints a much clearer picture of what happened and why.
Beyond the driver, there’s the company that put him behind the wheel. Did they properly train and screen him? Was he scheduled to drive for an unsafe number of hours? I’ve dealt with cases where drivers were poorly vetted or pushed to drive long shifts with little rest. In one case, a driver who caused a serious crash had previously been fired from multiple trucking jobs, but the company that hired him never checked.
At this stage, blaming the driver would be premature—but so would assuming this was a fluke. Getting to the bottom of this crash means asking the right questions and not stopping until the answers are backed by evidence.
Key Takeaways:
- Accountability depends on evidence—not assumptions.
- It’s unclear what caused the truck to drift off the road—distraction, fatigue, or mechanical failure are all possibilities.
- ECM data, in-cab cameras, and phone records are essential tools to uncover the truth.
- Driver behavior is only one part of the equation; company hiring and training practices may also be relevant.
- An effective investigation should aim to identify all contributing factors, not just the most obvious ones.
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