Allen County, KS — March 13, 2025, Scott Welch was killed in a truck accident at about 8 p.m. on U.S. Route 54.
Authorities said a Chevrolet pickup crashed into the back of a Ford pickup that had a large bale of hay blocking its taillights. The impact forced the Ford to spin around and overturn in the ditch.
Ford driver Scott Welch, 44, was thrown from the vehicle then hit by a passing SUV, according to authorities. He died at the scene of the crash.
No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Allen County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Crashes involving vehicles with obstructed lights raise serious concerns about visibility, road safety regulations and whether the crash could have been avoided. In this case, reports indicate that a Chevrolet pickup rear-ended a Ford pickup that had a large hay bale blocking its taillights, causing the Ford to overturn and eject its driver, who was then struck by another vehicle. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to poor visibility, unsafe cargo loading or other contributing factors.
One of the most important questions investigators should answer is whether the Ford pickup was properly equipped for safe road travel. Federal and state laws require vehicles to have visible taillights, especially when driving at night. If the hay bale blocked the lights, other drivers may not have been able to see the Ford until it was too late. Investigators should determine whether the driver attempted to secure the cargo properly or if they were in violation of regulations for hauling unsecured or oversized loads.
Another key factor is the reaction time of the Chevrolet driver. Was the driver following too closely, or was the Ford pickup effectively invisible until the moment of impact? Reviewing black box data, skid marks and any available dashcam footage will help determine whether the Chevrolet driver had enough time to react but failed to do so.
Speed and road conditions should also be considered. U.S. Route 54 is a major highway where vehicles travel at high speeds. Was the Ford moving significantly slower than surrounding traffic? Was there adequate lighting on the highway to compensate for the blocked taillights? If external factors contributed to limited visibility, that should be examined closely.
At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on who hit whom without investigating why the Ford pickup was on the road with obstructed taillights and whether other drivers had a fair chance to react, they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a full understanding of what went wrong.
