Stonington, CT — July 23, 2025, Shawn Twomey was killed in a truck accident at about 11:30 a.m. on southbound Interstate 95.
Authorities said a motorcycle crashed into the back of a semi-truck near Exit 91.
Motorcyclist Shawn Twomey, 52, of New Haven was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.
The truck driver was not hurt, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the New London County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear about a crash where a motorcycle runs into the back of a semi-truck, they might assume it’s an open-and-shut case. But in my experience, rear-end crashes involving motorcycles and commercial trucks often raise more questions than they answer. The key issue isn’t just what happened, but why it happened, and there’s no way to answer that without a serious look into the evidence.
At this point, we don’t know whether the truck was stopped or moving, whether it had just changed lanes or whether it was experiencing mechanical trouble. All of those details matter. For example, if the truck had to stop suddenly due to congestion or was parked on the shoulder and encroaching into the lane, those are conditions that could affect who bears responsibility. Likewise, if the truck changed lanes into the motorcyclist’s path or braked abruptly without warning, that could explain how the motorcycle came to be behind it with no time to react.
These aren’t idle hypotheticals. They’re precisely the kinds of issues that can only be clarified through data: engine control module downloads (the truck’s “black box”), dash cam footage, GPS records and even cell phone logs for both drivers. Without that, we’re left guessing.
Another unanswered question is visibility. Rear-end crashes involving motorcycles can be deadly even at low speeds, especially if the truck lacked proper reflective tape, working taillights or hazard flashers. I’ve handled cases where trailer visibility played a major role in fatal crashes, details that never made it into the initial police report.
We also don’t know anything about the trucking company’s safety protocols or driver oversight. Does this company require dash cameras? Do they monitor sudden braking events or near-miss incidents? Have there been similar complaints or incidents involving this same driver or company? In a courtroom, these aren’t “gotcha” questions; they’re standard parts of getting to the truth.
None of this is to say the motorcyclist didn’t make a mistake. But premature assumptions often give commercial drivers and their employers a pass before all the facts are known. That’s not how accountability works, and it’s not how families get real answers.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s unclear whether the truck was stopped or moving when the motorcycle struck it, which is crucial to understanding fault.
- Evidence like dash cam footage, black box data and brake light functionality could clarify what happened in the moments before impact.
- Visibility issues, including whether the trailer was properly marked, may be a key factor in motorcycle rear-end collisions.
- The trucking company’s training and monitoring practices are part of the investigative puzzle, not a side issue.
- A full picture of liability can only emerge after thorough, independent investigation, not from initial assumptions.
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