Union County, OH — May 23, 2025, three people were injured in a truck accident at about 8:15 a.m. on U.S. Route 42 in Jerome Township.
Authorities said a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica was heading west on Harriott Road when it was hit by a northbound semi-truck while trying to cross the highway. The impact forced it into the path of another semi-truck heading south on U.S. 42.
All three drivers were hospitalized after the crash, but authorities did not disclose the extent of their injuries. Their names have not been made public at this time.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Union County crash. The accident is still being investigated.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people read about a crash like the one in Jerome Township, where a minivan crossing U.S. Route 42 was struck by not one but two semi-trucks, the natural question is, “How could this have happened?” From the outside, it sounds like a simple misjudgment at an intersection. But based on my experience litigating commercial vehicle crashes, I can tell you that surface-level explanations rarely reveal the whole story.
The official reports say a Chrysler Pacifica was trying to cross the highway and was hit by a northbound semi. That impact then pushed it into a second, southbound truck. What’s not clear is how much time the van had to cross, how fast the trucks were going, and what each driver saw, or should have seen, before impact. That’s not just curiosity. It speaks to whether this was a case of driver error, a failure to yield or something deeper like poor visibility, driver distraction or even improper spacing by either truck.
The way you answer those questions is through evidence. Both trucks likely had engine control modules, black boxes that record speed, braking and throttle usage. Dash cameras, if installed, can show road conditions and driver behavior in the seconds before the crash. Cell phone records may tell us if either truck driver was distracted. And driver qualification files, particularly their crash history and training records, could reveal patterns that shouldn’t have been ignored.
Another point that often gets overlooked is how the second truck responded. Once the Pacifica was pushed into its path, did that driver have any opportunity to react? Depending on how much space and time they had, it might not have been avoidable. But if that truck was tailgating or speeding, it could have been a contributing factor.
A critical part of these cases involves not just the drivers but the companies that put them on the road. Did these drivers go through thorough training? Were they properly screened before being hired? I’ve handled cases where drivers had multiple terminations on their records but were still put behind the wheel of 80,000-pound trucks. One case I handled involved a company whose “driver evaluation” consisted of a 20-minute road test that somehow claimed to measure daytime, nighttime and inclement weather skills, all in the middle of a sunny afternoon. That kind of shortcut is not just irresponsible, it’s dangerous.
What troubles me most is that the authorities haven’t said much beyond the basic facts. That’s not unusual, but it puts the onus on those affected to push for a complete and independent investigation. Without examining the truck data, driver logs and company practices, there’s no way to know who should be held accountable. And in cases involving multiple impacts and serious injuries, it’s rarely just one mistake that causes the damage.
Key Takeaways
- It’s unclear whether the minivan driver had enough time and visibility to safely cross the highway.
- Black box data, dash cams and driver phone records will be key to understanding what each truck was doing before the crash.
- Depending on how the second truck responded, it may or may not have had a chance to avoid the collision.
- The drivers’ training, history and the hiring practices of their employers should all be scrutinized.
- A full investigation is essential to determine which parties, if any, failed in their responsibilities.
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