Lancaster County, NE — July 29, 2025, Corey Watts was killed in a truck accident at about 12:20 p.m. at U.S. Route 77 and Waverly Road.
Authorities said a westbound semi-truck collided with a southbound semi-truck at the intersection, forcing both of them into the ditch as grain and fuel spilled.
The driver of the westbound truck, 51-year-old Shelby resident Corey Watts, died after being airlifted to a nearby hospital, according to authorities.
The other driver, a 64-year-old Iowa man, was hospitalized with unspecified injuries, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash north of Lincoln.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear about a crash involving two semi-trucks spilling grain and fuel into a roadside ditch, it’s natural to ask: How does something like that even happen? Was someone speeding? Did someone run a red light? Did one of the trucks fail to yield? We don’t yet know. But that’s exactly the kind of uncertainty a proper investigation should clear up.
At the moment, the available details raise more questions than they answer. Two trucks entered the same intersection from perpendicular directions and collided: one heading west, the other heading south. That tells us this was either an uncontrolled intersection or someone failed to obey a traffic signal or stop sign. But which one? The reports don’t say.
Depending on who had the right of way, very different legal questions arise. If the westbound truck driven had the green light or a clear right of way, then the southbound truck’s actions come under scrutiny. If the opposite is true, then the focus shifts to what the other driver was doing at the time of the crash. Was he distracted? Was his truck speeding? Was there a mechanical failure?
And that’s only the beginning. In a serious crash like this, where one truck driver is killed and another is hospitalized, the evidence from inside the trucks becomes crucial. Did either truck have dash cams or in-cab video? What about GPS or engine control module (“black box”) data to tell us how fast they were going, whether they braked or if one accelerated into the intersection? Cell phone records could also help determine if distraction played a role.
We also can’t overlook the spilled cargo. Grain and fuel aren’t light materials, and depending on how they were loaded or secured, that might have played a part. If one of the trailers was overloaded or improperly balanced, that could have affected how it handled or how it responded in an emergency.
I’ve seen cases where the cause of a crash didn’t come down to a single mistake but to a chain of small decisions: driver training gaps, poor hiring choices, overlooked maintenance or a rushed loading process. Until the full picture emerges, we shouldn’t assume this was a simple failure of driving judgment. The truth often turns out to be far more layered than that.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s still unclear which truck had the right of way at the intersection, which is vital information for determining fault.
- Critical questions remain unanswered about distraction, speed, mechanical failure or failure to obey traffic controls.
- Onboard data and video, if available, could clarify each truck’s actions leading up to the crash.
- Spilled grain and fuel suggest cargo weight and loading may also need to be investigated.
- Getting to the truth will require a thorough review of both driver behavior and company policies.
call us 
Email Us 
Text us