Linn County, MO — August 19, 2025, one person was killed and another was injured in a truck accident at about 3:30 p.m. on U.S. Route 36 near Bucklin.
Authorities said an eastbound Ford F-250 crashed into the back of a 2019 Peterbilt concrete truck parked on the shoulder of the highway.
A passenger in the pickup, a 45-year-old Holts Summit man, died in the crash, according to authorities. His name has not been made public yet.
The driver, a 32-year-old Ashland man, was seriously injured in the crash, authorities said.
The concrete truck driver was not hurt, according to authorities.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Linn County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people read about a fatal crash involving a pickup truck slamming into the back of a concrete truck parked on the shoulder of the highway, the first question they’re likely to ask is: How does something like that even happen? Was the parked truck visible? Was it truly off the road? Or did it create a hazard where none should have existed?
At this point, we know the Ford F-250 hit the back of a concrete truck on the shoulder of U.S. Route 36, leading to one death and one serious injury. But a few key facts are still missing; facts that are critical to understanding who, if anyone, might be responsible for this crash.
The most immediate unanswered question is whether the concrete truck was fully off the road and clearly marked. Depending on how far onto the shoulder it was, and whether it had proper lighting or hazard signals, the parked truck may or may not have posed a threat to passing traffic. That’s something only a thorough investigation can determine.
In past cases I’ve handled, I’ve seen situations where a truck appeared to be “safely parked,” but further analysis — using dash cam footage, engine control module data and scene reconstructions — revealed it was encroaching into the traffic lane or lacked basic warnings like reflective triangles or flashing lights. Even a few feet over the line or a broken taillight can make the difference between a normal drive and a deadly collision.
Another question worth asking is why the pickup truck veered onto the shoulder in the first place. Was the driver distracted? Did he fall asleep? Was he avoiding something else in the road? Authorities haven’t said, and we won’t get the answers without looking at things like the pickup driver’s cell phone records or any nearby traffic cameras that might have captured the moments leading up to the crash.
I’m not suggesting the pickup driver was necessarily at fault, but I’ve also seen too many cases where people leap to conclusions without waiting for the full story. The only way to get that story is to gather every piece of relevant evidence: black box data from both vehicles, witness statements, dash cams and possibly even the maintenance logs of the concrete truck. If the truck had been parked for a mechanical issue, for example, that might introduce a whole new set of responsibilities for the company that owns it.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s not yet clear whether the parked concrete truck was fully off the road or properly marked, both of which are critical in determining liability.
- Why the pickup truck veered onto the shoulder is still an unanswered question, and distracted driving or evasive action can’t be ruled out.
- Evidence like ECM data, lighting conditions, hazard markers and dash cams will be essential to understanding what really happened.
- Responsibility in these cases often comes down to small details that only a detailed investigation can uncover.
- Until all the evidence is reviewed, it’s premature to assume who, if anyone, is to blame for the crash.
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