1 Injured in Truck Accident on U.S. Route 13 near Exmore, VA

Northampton County, VA — February 21, 2025, one person was injured in a truck accident at about 9 a.m. on U.S. Route 13 south of Exmore.

Authorities said a northbound 2005 Western Star semi-truck crashed into the back of a Ford Expedition near Brickhouse Drive.

The Ford driver, whose name has not been made public at this time, suffered serious injuries in the crash, according to authorities.

The truck driver was cited for following too close, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash. The accident remains under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I see that a truck driver was cited for following too closely after a crash, my first thought is that this was likely a preventable wreck. Semi-trucks require much more stopping distance than passenger vehicles, which is why federal regulations emphasize safe following distances. If the truck driver didn’t leave enough space to react, that points to negligence.

That said, investigators should still take a closer look at all contributing factors. Was the truck driver distracted? Speeding? Did they fail to account for traffic conditions? Reviewing black box data and any available dashcam footage could provide key details about what was happening in the moments before impact.

Another issue worth considering is whether the trucking company played a role. Some companies put their drivers on tight schedules, pushing them to follow too closely in traffic to avoid delays. If that pressure influenced the driver’s behavior, then responsibility may extend beyond just one person.

At this point, we know the truck driver was too close to the vehicle ahead, but what we don’t know is why. If investigators only focus on issuing a citation without looking deeper, they might miss the bigger picture of what led to this crash.