Adams County, PA — August 15, 2025, Edward McCartney and Marjorie McCartney were killed in a truck accident at about 11 a.m. on U.S. Route 30.
Authorities said a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu was turning onto Route 30/Chambersburg Road when it was hit by a semi-truck.
Chevrolet driver Edward B. McCartney, 90, and Marjorie McCartney, 87, died from injuries suffered in the crash near Fayetteville, according to authorities.
The truck driver was hospitalized with unspecified injuries, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Adams County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a crash involves a passenger vehicle turning onto a highway and being struck by a semi-truck, the public’s first question is usually: How did the two vehicles end up in the same space at the same time? That’s exactly the kind of question a proper investigation is designed to answer.
Based on what’s been reported so far, it appears the victims were turning onto Route 30 when a semi-truck struck their vehicle. But that short summary leaves several key questions unanswered. Was the truck already on Route 30, or was it also entering the highway? If the truck had the right of way, did it have time to react? If it didn’t, was it speeding or distracted? And if the victims had the right of way, what was the truck doing in their path?
It’s not enough to simply assume who had the green light or who failed to yield. Real answers require evidence. That means obtaining dash cam footage if available, checking for in-cab camera systems, pulling the truck’s ECM data to confirm speed and braking, and reviewing the truck driver’s cell phone records to determine whether distraction played a role.
One crucial piece of the puzzle is timing. Depending on how fast the truck was going and when the passenger car began turning, different conclusions could be drawn. A vehicle making a legal left turn can still be struck if the oncoming vehicle is speeding or inattentive.
Another layer that often gets overlooked is the role of the trucking company itself. What kind of vetting and training did they provide this driver? Was the company aware of any red flags in the driver’s background? I’ve handled cases where poor hiring practices put underqualified or even dangerous drivers behind the wheel of massive vehicles. And when that happens, the root cause of the crash often goes far beyond what happened in the final few seconds.
At this point, we don’t have enough information to assign blame. But that’s not a reason to stop asking questions—it’s a reason to demand answers. Black box data, phone records, and company policies aren’t abstract legal tools. They’re how we find out what really happened and who should be held accountable.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s unclear who had the right of way or whether the truck driver had time to avoid the crash.
- Critical evidence like dash cams, ECM data, and phone records can clarify what happened in the moments leading up to the impact.
- Investigators should also examine the trucking company’s hiring, training, and supervision policies.
- Accountability doesn’t just rest on the drivers—it can extend to the company if systemic issues are involved.
- Real answers depend on real evidence—not assumptions or surface-level reports.
