Laclede County, MO — June 9, 2024, Allan Borgen and Isabelle Busse were killed due to a semi-truck accident at around 6:45 p.m. on Interstate 44.
Authorities said in initial statements that the collision happened east of Lebanon on westbound lanes of the interstate.
According to officials, 75-year-old Allan Borgen and 54-year-old Isabelle Busse were in a minivan going along I-44. From the oncoming lanes of travel, it appears a semi-truck lost control and ended up going left of center. It entered westbound lanes where it crashed into Borgen and Busse head-on. As a result, Borgen and Busse sustained fatal injuries. There were no other injuries.
Right now, the exact cause for the crash remains unclear.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a truck crosses into oncoming traffic on the interstate, it’s clear that something went very wrong. My concern in these situations, though, is if authorities are going to be thorough enough to answer not just what went wrong but why it went wrong. Let me explain why that’s often more challenging than people may realize.
For one, it’s important to know whether or not the crash was even avoidable. Was it due to a sudden medical emergency, a tire blowout, road hazards, or something else the truck driver couldn’t necessarily avoid? Or, was this due to a momentary lapse in judgment by the truck driver? Distracted driving, speeding, and fatigue are more common causes, but it’s important to let evidence speak for itself.
However, aside from these possibilities, it’s also crucial to consider mistakes that may have occurred long before the crash happened. Was the driver fatigued from trying to meet an unreasonable deadline set by their employer? Was the driver adequately trained, or were they rushed through the hiring process and put behind the wheel as soon as possible? Did a lack of regular maintenance lead to a foreseeable, preventable mechanical failure? Has the truck driver or their employer been involved in previous incidents that would suggest a pattern of irresponsible behavior?
Frankly, these are the kinds of questions I don’t often see authorities address on their own. Police tend to focus on the actions of those involved in the crash and details that are immediately accessible at the scene of the crash. Details beyond that which may have influenced the actions of those involved require more than that surface-level examination. As such, things like maintenance records, driver history, medical records, and training procedures don’t often come to light until there are more thorough independent investigations. Maybe authorities here are being more thorough, but I certainly wouldn’t take that for granted with so much at stake.
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