Toledo, OH — February 5, 2025, Brandy Pearce was killed and Leonard Hansend was injured in a truck accident about 2:30 a.m. on Interstate 75.
Authorities said a van traveling north in the southbound lane of the highway crashed into a semi-truck near the Interstate 280 interchange. The van overturned and burst into flames after the collision.
Van driver Brandy Pearce, 35, died in the crash, according to authorities. The truck driver, Leonard Hansend, 44, was hospitalized with unspecified injuries.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
My first question when I read about a crash like this is, “How did the van end up going the wrong direction in the first place?” Many people assume wrong-way crashes happen because a driver is lost or confused, but in my experience, these incidents often involve deeper issues that require careful investigation.
One of the first things investigators should determine is where and how the van entered the southbound lanes. Did it enter from an off-ramp due to missing or poorly placed “Wrong Way” or “Do Not Enter” signs? I’ve seen cases where faded or obstructed signage contributed to wrong-way entries, particularly in areas with complex highway interchanges. If there were recent road changes or construction detours near this location, that should also be examined.
Another key factor is road design and visibility. This crash happened at 2:30 a.m., a time when darkness and low traffic volumes can make it harder for wrong-way drivers to realize their mistake. Investigators should look at whether lighting conditions were adequate and whether the roadway had proper lane markings to alert drivers of the correct direction.
It’s also important to consider how quickly the semi-truck driver was able to recognize and react to the van. Wrong-way crashes often happen at high speeds, giving other drivers little time to respond. Reviewing ECM (black box) data from the truck could provide insight into whether the trucker had a chance to brake or evade before the impact.
At this stage, too little is known to determine exactly what led to this wreck, but that’s why a thorough investigation is necessary. Looking at highway entry points, signage, road conditions and the van’s movements leading up to the crash will be key in understanding how this happened and whether anything could have been done differently to prevent it.
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