Beadle County, SD — July 21, 2025, one person was killed due to a truck accident at approximately 8:00 a.m. along U.S. Highway 14.
According to authorities, a 31-year-old Miller man was traveling in a northbound Buick LeSabre on West Park Avenue approaching the U.S. 14 intersection when the accident took place.
Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the Buick entered the intersection at an unsafe time, allegedly failing to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign. This resulted in a collision between the Buick and a Kenworth Construction vehicle that had been headed eastbound along U.S. 14.
The man who had been behind the wheel of the Buick reportedly sustained fatal injuries as a result of the wreck. It does not appear that anyone else was hurt. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a passenger vehicle enters a highway intersection and is struck by a commercial truck, the first assumption many people make is that the smaller vehicle must have caused the crash. And in this case, initial reports suggest the driver of the Buick may have failed to yield at a stop sign. But even if that turns out to be true, that doesn’t mean the truck driver—or the company operating the truck—is automatically off the hook.
One thing I’ve seen in similar cases is that right-of-way violations don’t always happen in a vacuum. Sometimes there’s more to the story: obstructed signage, confusing intersections, or poor visibility due to parked equipment or overgrown vegetation. If the stop sign wasn’t clearly visible or the layout of the intersection encouraged risky crossing, that could raise questions about whether the roadway itself contributed to the crash.
And even if the passenger vehicle did proceed into the intersection too early, the commercial truck’s behavior still matters. Was the truck speeding? Was the driver distracted or fatigued? In one hypothetical scenario, a truck traveling just 10 mph over the posted limit could reduce the time to react by several seconds—enough to turn a near-miss into a fatal impact. ECM data and dash cam footage can often clarify what the truck was doing in the seconds before the crash, and whether the driver took any evasive action.
It’s also worth considering the type of vehicle involved. A Kenworth construction truck isn’t just a road vehicle—it may be carrying heavy equipment or materials, which affects stopping distance, visibility, and maneuverability. That makes the driver’s level of training and the vehicle’s braking condition even more important to evaluate.
Ultimately, the law may assign primary fault to the passenger vehicle for failing to yield. But from an investigative standpoint, that’s only the starting point. Real accountability depends on examining every contributing factor—not just the one that’s easiest to spot.
Key Takeaways:
- Reports indicate the passenger vehicle may have failed to yield, but full responsibility has yet to be determined.
- Investigators should examine signage visibility, road layout, and intersection design.
- The truck’s speed, braking, and driver alertness will be critical in understanding its role.
- Construction vehicles have unique handling characteristics that require closer scrutiny of equipment and driver training.
- Even in apparent right-of-way violations, a thorough investigation is needed to uncover all contributing factors.
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