Lee County, AR — August 13, 2025, Ethel Gardner and Florence Oglesby was killed and Joseph Hinesman was injured in a truck accident at about 8:15 a.m. on U.S. Route 79 south of Moro.
Authorities said a 2020 Kenworth semi-truck was heading south on U.S. 79 when it collided with a 2019 Nissan Versa that was crossing the road on State Highway 238.
Nissan driver Ethel Gardner, 76, and passenger Florence Oglesby, 72, died in the crash, according to authorities.
The truck driver, 57-year-old Georgia resident Joseph Hinesman, was hospitalized with unspecified injuries, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Lee County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear about a collision between a car and an 18-wheeler, the assumption often leans toward the car being at fault, especially if the truck had the right of way. But that kind of surface-level judgment skips over a lot of critical questions. In this case, two people lost their lives and a third was injured when their vehicle crossed U.S. Route 79 and collided with a southbound semi-truck. That tells us almost nothing about what actually caused the wreck.
One of the most basic unanswered questions is whether the truck driver had time and space to avoid the crash. Was the Nissan already in the intersection when the truck approached? Was the truck speeding? Did the driver brake or swerve? All of those questions can be answered through physical evidence — brake marks, dashcam footage, black box data — but until someone gathers and examines that evidence, any theory about fault is just guesswork.
It’s also unclear whether visibility or road design played a role. Depending on how the intersection is laid out, drivers crossing U.S. 79 may have limited sightlines. That’s not an excuse, but it could factor into whether both drivers could reasonably see each other in time. If the view was obstructed — or if signs, signals or road markings were inadequate — then responsibility might not lie solely with either driver.
From the truck driver’s side, there’s more to look into than just the crash scene. Investigators should review cell phone records, in-cab camera footage if available and the truck’s engine control module (ECM). That data can confirm whether the driver was distracted, fatigued or in full control of the vehicle. In one case I handled, a truck driver was found to have been using a dating app moments before the crash, a detail no one would’ve known without scrutinizing his phone records. So unless and until that kind of deeper inquiry is done, we’re still in the dark.
It’s also worth noting that sometimes the trucking company itself plays a hidden but crucial role in these cases. Maybe they pushed the driver to meet an unrealistic delivery deadline. Maybe they failed to train him adequately. In one case I handled, a driver had been fired multiple times and still got hired by a company that barely tested his driving skills. If that’s the case here, then the company may have made a bad hire that cost people their lives.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s not clear whether the truck or the car entered the intersection first, an essential fact in understanding fault.
- ECM data, dashcam footage and cell phone records could shed light on whether the truck driver acted appropriately.
- Road design, signage and visibility conditions may have contributed to the crash and should be investigated.
- The trucking company’s hiring, training and dispatch policies could be relevant depending on what the evidence reveals.
- Determining fault requires more than reading a crash report. It takes thorough, independent investigation to get the full story.
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