Washington County, MO — July 2, 2025, Six people were injured following an 18-wheeler accident that occurred at around 10:57 A.M. on Hwy 121.
According to reports, a Dodge Journey occupied by two adults and four minors was traveling in the area of Highway 121 and Route E, when for unknown reasons it failed to stop at a red light and drove in the path of an 18-wheeler. The semi braked suddenly to avoid a collision when it began to skid and struck the Dodge, sending it off road.
When first responders arrived they found that one adult and two children sustained injuries ranging from moderate to serious, while the second adult and two other children sustained minor injuries, and they were all transported to the hospital. The semi driver was not hurt, and officials have not released an update on the investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear that a vehicle ran a red light and got hit by an 18-wheeler, they may be tempted to think the case is open-and-shut: the driver of the smaller vehicle made a mistake, and the truck couldn’t avoid the crash. But from experience, I can tell you that even when a report seems to assign fault in one direction, that doesn’t mean there isn’t more to investigate.
According to reports, a Dodge Journey carrying six people entered the path of a semi-truck after allegedly running a red light. In response, the truck driver reportedly braked suddenly, but the rig began to skid and struck the Dodge, pushing it off the road. Several people were hospitalized, including children.
Right away, we’re dealing with some unanswered questions. First, what exactly caused the Dodge to enter the intersection? “Failed to stop” could mean several things—driver inattention, distraction, or even a mechanical failure like bad brakes. Until investigators review ECM data from both vehicles and get driver and witness statements, there’s no way to say for sure.
Next, even though the truck driver is described as having “braked suddenly,” the outcome—skidding into the other vehicle—raises questions about how the truck was being operated. Was the driver traveling too fast for conditions? Was the truck properly maintained, particularly the braking system? And what kind of load was the truck carrying? Improperly loaded or unbalanced cargo can cause trailers to fishtail or prevent proper braking when drivers need it most.
Another question is how long the Dodge was in the intersection before the crash. In similar cases I’ve litigated, in-cab cameras and dash cams have shown that a vehicle entered an intersection several seconds before a truck arrived—raising the possibility that the truck driver wasn’t paying attention or delayed in responding. That’s why it’s so important to preserve video evidence and black box data right away. Without that, these critical seconds get reduced to speculation.
Finally, it’s worth asking whether the intersection itself has been the site of other wrecks. Poor signal timing, obstructed views, or confusing lane layouts can all play a role, even if they’re not immediately obvious. I’ve handled more than one case where design flaws at a busy intersection played just as much a role in the crash as any one driver’s mistake.
It’s entirely possible the Dodge driver ran the red light and created a situation no one could avoid. But that conclusion shouldn’t be made until every contributing factor—including the truck’s speed, braking ability, and driver reaction—has been thoroughly reviewed.
Key Takeaways:
- Reports that the Dodge ran a red light raise questions, but we don’t yet know what caused the vehicle to enter the intersection.
- The truck’s skid and impact suggest further investigation is needed into braking, speed, and cargo conditions.
- Black box data, dash cams, and in-cab footage are essential to understanding what really happened.
- The intersection’s layout and signal timing could also be relevant, depending on what other evidence shows.
- Accountability depends on a full investigation—not assumptions about who’s at fault.
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