Chowan County, NC — March 25, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 12:20 p.m. on State Highway 32.
Authorities said a semi-truck hauling liquid nitrogen hit the hydraulic blade of a John Deere tractor that was turning left as the truck passed it. The impact forced the tractor into a ditch where it overturned. The tanker truck continued off the road as well, ending up in a field.
The tractor driver, whose name has not been made public at this time, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. The truck driver was not injured.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Chowan County crash. The accident is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
This crash raises an often-overlooked but important question in commercial vehicle cases: What are a truck driver’s obligations when approaching slow-moving or turning equipment on a rural road? Based on what’s been reported, a semi-truck hauling liquid nitrogen attempted to pass a John Deere tractor as it was turning left, clipped its hydraulic blade and sent both vehicles off the road, with fatal results for the tractor driver.
In my experience, crashes like this often come down to a failure to properly assess a slow-moving vehicle’s intentions. Farm equipment like tractors doesn’t operate the way cars or trucks do. They move slower, make wider turns and don’t always follow the flow of traffic in a predictable way. That’s why commercial drivers are trained to approach with caution, especially on two-lane highways where space is limited.
Here, the truck struck the tractor as it was turning. That raises several questions: Did the tractor signal the turn? If so, how far in advance? Did the truck driver begin the passing maneuver anyway? Even if no signal was given, a professional driver still has a duty to assess whether it’s safe to pass, and passing a tractor that’s drifting left or slowing in a leftward arc is inherently risky.
The fact that the truck was hauling liquid nitrogen adds another layer of seriousness. Tankers — especially those carrying pressurized or hazardous materials — are supposed to operate under heightened caution. If a maneuver carries enough risk to cause a rollover or off-road crash, then it’s probably not a maneuver that should’ve been attempted in the first place. Investigators should be looking into whether the truck’s speed, timing and distance left any margin for error, and whether the driver had time to wait for a safer opportunity to pass.
Beyond that, investigators should also review in-cab camera footage (if any exists), the truck’s black box data and any eyewitness statements. In rural areas, these details can be harder to come by, which makes it even more important not to rely solely on surface-level facts when determining fault.
The bottom line is this: when a person dies after being hit during a turn, the core issue isn’t just “who was where” on the road. It’s whether the passing maneuver was safe, necessary, and legal under the circumstances. And if the answer to any of those questions is no, then there’s real accountability to be found here, whether that lies with the driver, the company or both.
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