Sainte Genevieve County, — December 19, 2025, one person was killed and at least four were injured in a multi-vehicle truck accident at about 8:00 a.m. on S.H. 32.
According to authorities, the accident took place on State Highway 32, though the exact location has not been specified in news reports. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a collision occurred between an 18-wheeler, a school bus, and two passenger vehicles.
One person reportedly sustained fatal injuries over the course of the accident. The four children who had been on the school bus at the time of the wreck each suffered minor injuries, as well. It is unclear if any others involved were hurt.
Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a crash involves an 18-wheeler, a school bus, and multiple passenger vehicles—and results in a fatality—the public deserves clear answers about how that much weight and energy converged in the same space, and why it wasn’t prevented. Multi-vehicle crashes involving commercial trucks often point to failures in speed management, spacing, or hazard recognition—especially on two-lane highways like State Highway 32.
Right now, there are more questions than answers. What role did the 18-wheeler play in initiating the crash? Was the truck following too closely or unable to stop in time? Was the school bus in motion, stopped to load children, or slowing for a turn? And were all vehicles traveling in the same direction, or did one cross into oncoming lanes? Each of these possibilities changes the legal picture entirely.
What we do know is that children were on board the school bus and at least one person outside the bus was killed. That raises immediate concerns about driver attentiveness, not just on the part of the truck driver, but for every driver involved. Professional drivers—especially those operating 80,000-pound trucks—are expected to maintain heightened awareness when near school buses. That includes increasing following distance, anticipating sudden stops, and adjusting for road conditions.
If the truck was the striking vehicle—either hitting stopped traffic or triggering a chain reaction—the investigation will likely focus on whether the driver had enough time and distance to react. Engine control module (ECM) data, dash cam footage, and physical evidence from the crash scene can clarify how fast the truck was going, whether brakes were applied, and how much time the driver had to avoid the collision.
In cases I’ve worked on with similar circumstances, the root cause often comes down to one preventable mistake: a driver failed to respond appropriately to developing traffic conditions. And when a school bus is involved, that standard of care becomes even more critical.
Key Takeaways:
- A collision involving an 18-wheeler, a school bus, and passenger vehicles likely stems from a breakdown in speed control or following distance.
- It’s still unclear which vehicle initiated the crash, but ECM and dash cam data will be critical in reconstructing the sequence of events.
- The presence of a school bus raises the standard of care expected from nearby drivers, especially those operating commercial vehicles.
- Investigators must examine road layout, visibility, and vehicle positioning to determine whether the crash could have been avoided.
- A full investigation will need to determine whether this fatal incident was the result of a preventable error by one or more drivers.
call us 
Email Us 
Text us