Cullman County, AL — December 9, 2025, Robert Nerovich was killed in a truck accident at about 6 a.m. on Interstate 65 north of Dodge City.
Authorities said a 2011 Ford E-350 and a 2026 Freightliner semi-truck collided near State Highway 69.
Ford driver Robert W. Nerovich, 36, died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to authorities.
No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Cullman County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people read about a fatal crash between a box truck and an 18-wheeler, like the one that happened on I-65 near Dodge City, their first questions are usually pretty straightforward: How did this happen? Who’s responsible? And are we getting the full story?
So far, we only know that a Ford E-350 and a Freightliner 18-wheeler collided and that the man driving the Ford lost his life. What’s missing is any explanation of how the collision happened. Was one vehicle stopped? Did one change lanes? Did either driver make a critical mistake, or was something else at play? Until those questions are answered, it’s too soon to assume who’s at fault.
The reality is, crashes like this are rarely the result of a single bad decision. What I’ve seen again and again in my own experience with commercial vehicle accidents is that the real story doesn’t come out until someone looks beyond the crash report. That means securing and analyzing electronic data from the truck, especially the engine control module (ECM), which can show the truck’s speed, braking and steering inputs leading up to the impact.
It also means finding out what the truck driver was doing in the moments before the crash. Was the driver alert and paying attention? Or were they distracted, perhaps by a cell phone? That’s not something anyone can answer without reviewing phone records or checking whether the truck was equipped with in-cab cameras.
Depending on the findings, the focus may also shift to the trucking company. Did they do a proper background check on the driver before putting them behind the wheel? Were there warning signs — past crashes, safety violations, failed drug tests — that should have disqualified the driver from the job in the first place?
In one case I handled, a trucking company hired a driver who had been fired from several previous jobs. Their idea of a “driving test” was a 20-minute cruise around the block. When that driver caused a crash, the company’s poor hiring practices ended up being more important than anything the driver did behind the wheel.
Right now, we don’t know whether the same kinds of issues played a role in this Alabama crash, but unless those questions are asked and answered, there’s no way to get to the truth.
Key Takeaways:
- Authorities have not released any explanation for how the crash between the Ford van and 18-wheeler occurred.
- Investigating fault will likely require data from the truck’s ECM, dash cameras and the driver’s phone records.
- It’s not clear whether either vehicle was stopped or moving at the time of impact. This makes a big difference legally.
- The trucking company’s hiring and supervision practices may be relevant, depending on the driver’s history.
- Getting to the bottom of a fatal truck crash takes more than reading a police report. It takes a thorough, independent investigation.
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