Cranston, RI — February 17, 2025, JoAnn DeCesare was injured in a morning truck accident on southbound Interstate 95.
JoAnn DeCesare reportedly was injured when a large sheet of ice was blown off a semi-truck ahead of the car she was riding in with her husband. The ice crashed through the windshield, hitting her in the face and chest.
JoAnn DeCesare was hospitalized after the crash, but her family said she was not seriously injured.
The truck driver reportedly told JoAnn DeCesare’s husband that his company is supposed to clear ice off the top of its trucks, but it sometimes doesn’t get the sides, according to media reports.
Authorities are still investigating the incident.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Crashes like this highlight a dangerous but often overlooked issue: ice and debris flying off commercial trucks. While many people assume a truck’s responsibility ends at driving safely, that’s not the case. Trucking companies and drivers are supposed to ensure their vehicles are safe for the road, and that includes removing ice and snow that could become a hazard to others.
The truck driver in this case reportedly acknowledged that his company is “supposed” to clear ice but doesn’t always do a thorough job. That raises an important question: If there’s a policy in place, why wasn’t it followed? Was it due to a lack of enforcement, improper equipment or simply a failure to prioritize safety? In my experience, policies that exist only on paper don’t mean much when companies don’t ensure they’re followed.
Beyond company policies, many states have laws requiring trucks to clear ice and snow before hitting the road. If Rhode Island has such a law, authorities should determine whether the company or driver violated it. Even in states without specific ice-removal laws, trucking companies still have a general duty to prevent foreseeable dangers. Ice flying off a moving truck is hardly an unpredictable event.
This crash also raises a broader concern about enforcement. If truck drivers are acknowledging that ice removal isn’t always done properly, how many other trucks on the road are carrying the same risk? One near-miss or minor injury today could be a fatal accident tomorrow.
Ultimately, this incident is a reminder that truck safety isn’t just about the driver’s actions on the road. Failing to properly clear ice is no different than driving with a loose load. It puts everyone around the truck in danger. A thorough investigation should determine whether this was a one-time oversight or part of a pattern of companies cutting corners on basic safety.
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