Barnes County, ND — August 14, 2025, Dirk Rozeboom was killed in a truck accident at about 4:40 p.m. on eastbound Interstate 94.
Authorities said a semi-truck drove off the road near mile marker 276, going through a ditch before coming to rest in more than 200 yards into a corn field.
Driver Dirk Rozeboom, 37, of Hudson, SD, died after being taken to a local hospital, according to authorities.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash near Valley City at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people see a report about a semi-truck veering off the road and into a cornfield, their first thought is often: How does something like that even happen? That’s the right question to ask. An 80,000-pound vehicle doesn’t just leave the highway for no reason, and when someone dies as a result, it’s critical to find out exactly why.
Right now, there’s no public explanation for why the truck in this case left the road. Was the driver trying to avoid something in the road? Did he fall asleep at the wheel? Was there a mechanical failure? Until investigators answer those basic questions, the rest of us are left to wonder.
Getting to the bottom of a crash like this requires more than just a look at the scene. Key evidence includes:
- Engine control module (ECM) data: This “black box” can show speed, braking, steering inputs and whether the truck was accelerating or decelerating before it left the road.
- Cell phone records: Was the driver texting, on a call or using apps?
- In-cab camera footage: If installed, these cameras could show the driver’s condition and behavior moments before the crash.
- Driver history: Had this driver been involved in similar incidents? Was he fit to be behind the wheel?
- Trucking company policies: Did the company follow proper hiring and training procedures, or did they cut corners?
In one case I handled, a truck driver who crashed had already been fired from multiple jobs for safety issues. But the company that hired her never checked those records, or didn’t care. Their evaluation process was so rushed and superficial that the driver was on the road when she shouldn’t have been. That’s how preventable crashes happen.
I’m not saying that’s what happened here. We don’t know yet. But until someone looks at the full range of available evidence, any assumption about the cause is just speculation.
Key Takeaways:
- A truck running off the road for over 200 yards raises serious questions that demand clear answers.
- Critical evidence like ECM data, in-cab video and cell phone records can reveal what was happening before the crash.
- Depending on what the evidence shows, liability may fall on the driver, the company or both.
- Without a full investigation, no one can say for sure what caused this fatal crash.
- Accountability depends on facts, not assumptions.
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