Burlington, MA — June 5, 2025, one person was injured in a truck accident at about 6:30 a.m. on State Route 128/Yankee Division Highway.
Authorities said an SUV was headed north near U.S. Route 3 when it crashed into the back end of a flatbed truck, spilling the truck’s load of steel plates onto the highway.
The SUV driver, whose name has not been made public yet, was hospitalized with serious injuries after the crash, according to authorities.
No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Middlesex County crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When most people read that a load of steel plates spilled across a highway, they assume the crash must have been serious. But beyond the obvious damage and disruption, a wreck like this raises deeper questions: How exactly did the cargo come loose? Was the load secured properly? And, most important, was this preventable?
Who’s Responsible for the Cargo?
In any crash involving spilled cargo, the big question is whether the cargo caused the wreck or the wreck caused the cargo to fall. That may sound like a chicken-and-egg scenario, but legally, it’s a critical distinction. If the SUV struck the back of the flatbed first, then we need to ask why it did. Was the truck stopped unexpectedly? Moving too slowly? Missing tail lights? Or was the SUV driver distracted or following too closely?
But if the cargo came loose before the SUV made contact, or contributed to the crash in any way, then a whole different set of questions opens up. That includes: who loaded the steel plates, what kind of restraints were used and whether those restraints failed due to poor maintenance or improper use. Flatbed loads, especially heavy materials like steel, need to be secured with extreme care using chains or heavy-duty straps rated for that kind of weight.
Why Evidence Matters
These questions aren’t theoretical. I once handled a case where steel was improperly loaded on a flatbed, hanging off the back without adequate lighting or securement. A motorist swerved to avoid the trailer but collided with the unlit steel overhang. That crash wasn’t caused by one bad decision; it was a series of oversights by multiple companies, each of which failed to do their part.
We don’t yet know whether anything like that happened here. The police report doesn’t explain how the load was secured, or whether it broke loose because of the crash or in a way that contributed to it. That’s the kind of detail an independent investigation can uncover, using photos of the trailer, inspections of the tie-downs and analysis of whether the truck was hauling cargo beyond its rated capacity.
Depending on what that evidence shows, the responsibility could fall on the truck driver, the loading company, the trucking company or multiple parties. But those answers don’t come automatically; they have to be pursued deliberately and with the right tools.
Key Takeaways
- It’s unclear whether the falling cargo caused the crash or was a result of it; a critical unanswered question.
- An investigation should examine how the steel plates were secured, and whether the restraints were sufficient and in good condition.
- Responsibility may extend beyond the truck driver to whoever loaded or planned the transport of the steel.
- Important evidence includes photos of the trailer, records of cargo securement and inspection of tie-down equipment.
- Only a thorough investigation will reveal who should ultimately be held accountable.
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