Carroll County, IA — July 11, 2025, Two people were killed and one was injured in an 18-wheeler accident that occurred around 11:19A.M. on US-71.
According to reports, an SUV operated by Jack Brown was traveling in the area of US-71 and 120th Street when it reportedly failed to stop at the intersection and was struck by a vehicle operated by Jeanette Bolster, followed by an 18-wheeler.
When first responders arrived they found that Brown along with Francis Bolster, a passenger in Jeanette Bolster’s vehicle, had sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased, while Jeanette Bolster was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Officials have not released an update on the status of the investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a crash involves multiple vehicles—including an 18-wheeler—and results in two deaths and serious injuries, people naturally want to know: How did this sequence of events unfold? According to the report, the initial cause appears to be that an SUV failed to stop at an intersection along US-71 and 120th Street. That led to a collision with a second vehicle, which was then struck by a tractor-trailer. But beyond that outline, we’re missing critical details that are necessary to understand what really happened—and who may bear responsibility.
One immediate question is what the 18-wheeler was doing in the moments leading up to impact. Depending on how quickly it came upon the initial crash scene, it may have had little time to react—or it might have had time but failed to take proper evasive action. Without that information, we can’t assume the truck was merely a secondary victim of an unavoidable situation. We need to know how fast it was traveling, how far behind the crash it was, and whether the driver applied the brakes or swerved. That’s where the truck’s engine control module (ECM), also known as the black box, becomes critical. It can show speed, braking activity, and throttle use in the seconds before impact.
In a case like this, the timing and positioning of each vehicle matters a great deal. Did the SUV blow through the intersection and cause an immediate chain reaction? Or was there a gap between the first and second collisions? If there was enough time for the truck to slow down or maneuver, that opens the door to questions about driver attentiveness, reaction time, and following distance. In other words, the investigation shouldn’t stop at the SUV’s failure to yield—it needs to account for every link in the chain.
Another key issue is visibility. Was the intersection clearly marked? Was there a stop sign or traffic light? Could the SUV driver reasonably have missed it, or was it clearly a failure on their part? These are the types of questions that help investigators—and potentially a jury—understand not just what happened, but whether anyone besides the SUV driver could or should have acted differently.
It’s also worth noting that we don’t know anything about the truck driver’s record or the trucking company’s safety practices. If the driver had prior incidents or the company had a history of poor oversight, that could shape how this case is ultimately viewed.
Key Takeaways:
- While the SUV’s failure to stop triggered the crash, the 18-wheeler’s role must be closely examined to determine whether its driver could have avoided the collision.
- Black box data from the truck will be essential in understanding speed, braking, and reaction time.
- The sequence and spacing of the collisions matter—gaps in time could indicate missed opportunities to prevent further harm.
- Roadway design, signage, and visibility should be reviewed to understand how the initial failure to stop occurred.
- A full investigation must go beyond the surface to determine whether others besides the SUV driver bear legal responsibility.
