New Madrid County, MO — June 14, 2025, Five people were injured following an 18-wheeler accident that occurred at around 2:10 P.M. on I-55.
According to reports, a Ford Fusion with five occupants was traveling on Interstate 55 in the southbound lanes, when for unknown reasons it struck the rear of an 18-wheeler, then a second 18-wheeler, followed by the rear of a Ford F-150.
When first responders arrived on the scene they found that all five occupants, including two juveniles, sustained injuries ranging from moderate to serious and transported them to the hospital for treatment. The identities of the injured have not been released, and authorities are investigating to determine the cause of the collision.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When I read that a single car struck the rear of two 18-wheelers and then hit a pickup truck—all in succession—it tells me this crash wasn’t just a matter of bad luck. Something failed along the way, and now five people, including two children, are in the hospital because of it. The question is: What broke down—vehicle control, driver focus, or something else entirely?
A Chain of Rear-End Collisions That Raises Questions
According to reports, the Ford Fusion was heading south on I-55 when, for reasons that haven’t yet been explained, it struck the back of one 18-wheeler, then another, and finally the rear of a Ford F-150. That’s not a routine traffic accident. When a car hits three separate vehicles from behind in a single incident, investigators have to consider whether the driver lost control altogether.
We don’t yet know whether the Fusion was speeding, whether visibility was poor, or whether traffic had suddenly slowed. But these are exactly the kinds of unanswered questions that demand attention—because without those answers, there’s no way to say what really caused the crash or whether anyone might have prevented it.
When Evidence Is the Only Way to the Truth
In this kind of multi-vehicle impact, investigators will need to reconstruct the exact sequence of collisions. That starts with data from the Ford Fusion itself—speed, braking, and steering input from the vehicle’s black box can offer a second-by-second account of how it all unfolded.
If the driver was distracted or impaired, phone records or toxicology reports may reveal that. If there was a medical emergency or mechanical issue, that should come out in the investigation too. And if any of the trucks or the F-150 had dash cams, they might have captured what happened just before impact.
Trucks Aren’t Always Passive Participants
It’s also worth noting that just because a car rear-ends a truck doesn’t mean the truck had no role in what happened. I’ve worked cases where a truck merged improperly, braked unexpectedly, or was partially stopped in the roadway due to mechanical issues. Depending on where and how those trucks were positioned, investigators may need to consider whether the 18-wheelers created a hazard the Fusion couldn’t avoid.
That’s not speculation—it’s a possibility that needs to be ruled out by hard evidence. In past cases I’ve handled, critical video or ECM data from the truck itself told a very different story than what was assumed at the scene.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s not clear why the Ford Fusion collided with two 18-wheelers and a pickup truck in sequence.
- Vehicle black box data, dash cam footage, and phone records will be key to understanding the driver’s actions.
- Investigators should consider whether the trucks’ movements or positioning contributed to the crash.
- Injuries alone don’t establish fault—what matters is what caused the chain of impacts to begin with.
- A thorough investigation is the only way to determine who, if anyone, bears legal responsibility.
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