Platte County, MO — October 23, 2024, An infant was killed in a multi-vehicle accident involving a tractor-trailer on Interstate 29.
According to official reports, 78-year-old Patsy Withrow, 44-year-old Terri Swartz, and an infant child were in a Toyota Corolla heading southbound on I-29. State police said that a tractor-trailer approaching Withrow “began to skid,” and it collided into the back of Withrow’s vehicle. The crash then involved at least two other vehicles.
As a result of the collision, the infant in Withrow’s vehicle sustained fatal injuries. Withrow’s injuries were reported to be serious, while Swartz reportedly had minor injuries. Joseph Waxmonski, the driver of a Ford F-150 involved in the crash, also sustained minor injuries in the crash, as did the operator of the 18-wheeler. No further information can be confirmed at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Saying that a truck “began to skid” before crashing into multiple vehicles on the interstate isn’t exactly a typical way of describing a crash like this. To be clear, I don’t have more evidence about what happened here than what authorities have reported. But when I see unusual language like that, it makes me wonder if authorities are really giving the accident enough attention. A deadly commercial truck wreck can involve all kinds of possible factors, and important details can easily slip through the cracks without a careful accident reconstruction. For that reason, it can be helpful to understand some of the factors independent accident reconstructionists look into.
Were there tire defects involved? Did the truck’s brakes fail due to a lack of maintenance? Did authorities pull data from the truck’s Engine Control Module to look at its speed leading up to the collision? Did they pull the driver’s cell phone records? Does the truck driver have a history of getting into accidents? Are they inexperienced or poorly trained? Were they rushing to meet an unreasonable deadline set by their employer? Was the truck hauling more cargo than its allowed to? Was the driver fatigued due to skipping rest breaks? Were there issues with the roadway itself?
These are just some of the many details I expect to see when I have independent accident reconstructionists look into a serious commercial vehicle wreck. I’ve handled hundreds of them over the years, and I haven’t been disappointed yet when there are dedicated, experienced professionals looking into the facts. What’s often disappointing, though, is when families end up with unanswered questions and doubts because they assumed authorities were going to be equally as thorough in their investigations. Simply put, that’s not something people can take for granted. Maybe authorities here are showing that they can provide satisfactory answers to the victims and families involved. But if there are details they haven’t considered or don’t have the tools to look into, they might be missing something crucial the victims and families need to know.
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