Hinds County, MS — October 3, 2025, Elizabeth Nelson was killed in a truck accident at about 1:40 p.m. on westbound Interstate 20 near Bolton.
Authorities said a 2020 Freightliner semi-truck collided with a 2023 Honda Passport and a Peterbilt semi-truck near mile marker 23.
Honda driver Elizabeth Hope Nelson, a 31-year-old Vicksburg resident, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.
No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Hinds County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear that a deadly crash involved not one but two 18-wheelers and a passenger vehicle, their first reaction is usually: How does something like this even happen? That’s the right question to ask, because in a situation involving multiple large trucks, there are often multiple points of failure.
At this point, we know a few facts: A Freightliner and a Peterbilt semi-truck were involved in a collision that also struck a Honda Passport, killing its driver. What we don’t know is just as important, especially if we’re trying to understand who, if anyone, should be held accountable.
For instance, it’s not clear whether one of the trucks rear-ended the other, whether they changed lanes improperly or if one of them lost control. Depending on who hit whom, and how, very different legal questions arise. If the first truck stopped suddenly and the second failed to keep a safe following distance, that suggests a basic failure to follow commercial driving rules. But if the front truck merged or braked in a way that left the second truck with nowhere to go, we may be looking at a failure in judgment or even a mechanical issue.
We also don’t yet know whether either truck was hauling cargo, and if so, did load-shifting contribute to a loss of control? I’ve handled more than one case where poorly secured cargo turned what should have been a manageable stop into a deadly chain reaction.
Even before assigning blame, the most urgent priority is to preserve evidence. That includes black box data from both trucks, dash cam footage (if available) and even something as simple as cell phone records. Was either driver distracted? Was fatigue a factor? These are questions that aren’t answered by looking at wreckage. They require an investigation that digs deeper than what police typically have the time or resources to do.
And we can’t ignore the companies behind these trucks. Who hired these drivers? What sort of training and supervision were they given? I’ve had cases where a driver with a history of accidents was put behind the wheel anyway, simply because a company needed bodies to move freight. In the courtroom, it’s often the hiring and oversight, not just the moment of the crash, that tells the full story.
Key Takeaways:
- The specific role each truck played in the collision remains unclear and will determine potential liability.
- Black box data, dash cams and driver cell records will be crucial in piecing together what happened.
- It’s unknown if shifting cargo played a role, but that possibility should be investigated.
- The hiring, training and supervision practices of both trucking companies deserve scrutiny.
- A full and independent investigation is the only way to determine where accountability truly lies.
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