Van Buren, AR — June 16, 2025, Mark Holmes was killed and another person was injured in a truck accident at about 2:10 a.m. on Interstate 40.
Authorities said a 2007 Ram pickup was heading east near mile marker 9 when it crashed into the back of a 2022 Volvo semi-truck. The impact spun the pickup into the path of a 2023 Peterbilt semi-truck, causing another collision.
Pickup driver Mark Holmes, 64, of Mandeville, LA, died in the crash, while a minor in the Peterbilt suffered unspecified injuries, according to authorities.
No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Crawford County crash.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear about a crash like this, where a pickup rear-ends one semi and gets hit by another, one of the first questions they naturally ask is, “How could that even happen?” And just as important, “Is someone clearly at fault, or is there more to the story?”
At first glance, it might seem like this was simply a case of a smaller vehicle crashing into a big rig and paying the price. But without more information, it’s far too early to reach that conclusion. In my experience, crashes involving multiple trucks often turn out to be more complicated than they look, especially when they happen in the middle of the night on a major interstate like I-40.
The crash report says the pickup struck the rear of a 2022 Volvo semi-truck. That raises several questions right off the bat: Was the truck moving at the time or was it stopped? If it was stopped, why? If it was moving, how fast? Depending on those answers, different questions arise about whether the truck was operating properly, had its lights on or was illegally parked on the shoulder or in the travel lane.
Then there’s the Peterbilt that hit the pickup after the initial collision. Did the second truck have time to avoid the crash but fail to slow down? Was the pickup still moving after the first collision, or had it come to rest in a travel lane? Again, we can’t draw conclusions without answers to those basic questions, and we don’t have them yet.
What we do know is that both commercial trucks likely carry onboard data that could shed light on exactly what happened. Most modern 18-wheelers have engine control modules (ECMs) that record speed, brake use and sudden changes in momentum. Some may also have dash cams or in-cab monitoring systems that could capture not just what happened but how the drivers responded. That kind of evidence is crucial when trying to piece together a crash like this, especially one that unfolded in a matter of seconds.
I’ve handled similar cases where nighttime visibility, poor driver training or even illegal parking on a shoulder contributed to a deadly chain of events. And in more than one case, the most important information didn’t come from the police report; it came from black box data, driver logs and independent investigation.
Without knowing more about the truck positions, lighting conditions or driver behavior, it’s impossible to say who, if anyone, violated the rules. But what this crash does demand is a serious look at all available evidence; not just what’s visible at the scene, but what’s recorded in the machines and behind the companies involved.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s not yet clear whether the Volvo semi was moving or stopped when it was rear-ended, an important detail that could shift how fault is assigned.
- The sequence of impacts raises questions about the Peterbilt driver’s reaction time and visibility at night.
- Key evidence such as ECM data, dash cams and driver logs will be essential to understanding how the crash unfolded.
- Without a thorough investigation, it’s impossible to know whether either truck driver, their employers or even third parties may bear responsibility.
- A case like this shows how surface-level crash reports often leave out the most important facts, facts that only come out through deeper inquiry.
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