Ohio County, WV — April 28, 2025, at least one person was injured in a truck accident at about 4 p.m. on eastbound Interstate 70 near the Pennsylvania border.
Authorities a semi-truck crashed into another semi-truck that had slowed down because one lane of the interstate was closed east of Wheeling near mile marker 13.
One driver was hospitalized with undisclosed injuries, while the other suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Ohio County crash. The accident is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a semi-truck crashes into the back of another semi-truck that had slowed for a lane closure, the legal focus quickly narrows to whether the trailing driver was following too closely, not paying attention or traveling too fast for conditions. In this crash on I-70 near the Pennsylvania border, where at least one driver was hospitalized, the early details suggest a failure to react properly to predictable traffic conditions.
Lane closures are a known hazard on the interstate. When traffic bottlenecks, trucks and other vehicles are expected to slow down, increase following distances, and prepare for sudden stops. Commercial drivers, in particular, are trained to recognize construction zones and lane closures as situations requiring heightened caution. Crashes like this one usually happen when that caution is missing.
The trailing truck’s engine control module will be a key piece of evidence. It will show whether the driver was maintaining a safe speed, how closely they were following the truck ahead and whether there was any braking or throttle reduction before impact. A lack of braking or a sudden hard brake immediately before the crash would strongly suggest that the driver wasn’t paying attention or failed to anticipate the slowdown.
It’s also worth considering the conditions on the roadway: Was signage clearly posted warning of the upcoming lane closure? Was there traffic congestion that made safe stopping more difficult? Those details matter, but even in heavy traffic, the duty of a commercial driver remains the same: operate the truck safely based on what’s ahead.
Two semi-trucks colliding at highway speeds is not a minor event. Even low-speed impacts between large trucks can cause significant injuries due to the sheer weight and force involved. In this case, the fact that both drivers suffered injuries only emphasizes how dangerous it is when heavy vehicles aren’t managed with proper caution in work zones.
Ultimately, this crash points back to a fundamental expectation: when commercial drivers are warned of a lane closure, they must slow down, watch closely and give themselves enough room to stop safely. If they don’t, crashes like this are almost inevitable. And when two professional drivers are involved, the margin for error is even smaller, and the consequences much greater. This investigation needs to establish clearly whether the trailing driver upheld the basic safety standards that the law demands in situations exactly like this one.
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