Montgomery County, MO — July 29, 2025, one person was injured in a truck accident at about 10:20 a.m. on Interstate 70 east of Williamsburg.
Authorities said a 2014 Peterbilt semi-truck crashed into the back of a 2018 Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck as both trucks were heading west near mile marker 166.8.
The driver of the Peterbilt, a 72-year-old West Virginia man, was seriously injured in the crash, according to authorities.
The other driver, a 48-year-old Georgia man, suffered minor injuries, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Montgomery County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When two 18-wheelers collide on a major highway, most people naturally assume it must have been a matter of one driver not paying attention. But the real question here isn’t just who hit who, it’s why the crash happened in the first place.
In this case, reports say that a Peterbilt rear-ended a Freightliner on westbound I-70. That might sound straightforward, but rear-end collisions between two semis aren’t always as simple as they appear. Was the lead truck stopped in traffic? Slowing for construction? Did the following driver have enough time and space to react? The answers to those questions aren’t in the public record yet, and until they are, no one can say for certain where the fault lies.
One thing that stands out is the age of the driver who was seriously hurt: 72 years old. That doesn’t mean he was at fault, but it does raise some natural questions about his fitness to operate a vehicle that size. Was his reaction time a factor? Did the company who employed him evaluate his ability to safely handle the job? A proper investigation should look at both the driver’s background and the company’s hiring practices.
Another key piece of the puzzle is technology. Most modern semis are equipped with electronic logging devices and engine control modules that can show exactly how fast the truck was going, when the brakes were applied and whether the driver was maintaining a safe following distance. In some cases, dash cams or in-cab video can give even more insight. None of that is speculation; it’s the kind of evidence I look for in every crash I investigate.
Depending on whether traffic was moving or stopped at the time, entirely different questions arise. If the lead truck had to stop suddenly, why? Was there a hazard ahead, or did something go wrong with that truck? On the other hand, if both trucks were moving steadily and the rear truck failed to keep distance, that could point to distraction, fatigue or inattention, issues that are common in long-haul trucking and should always be ruled out through a proper records check.
What’s clear is that this isn’t the kind of crash where surface-level facts tell the whole story. Serious answers will require serious investigation, starting with data, documentation and a full picture of how each company involved does business.
Key Takeaways:
- A rear-end crash between two semis raises questions beyond who hit who. It’s about why it happened.
- We don’t yet know whether traffic was moving or stopped, which changes how responsibility might be assessed.
- The age of the injured driver raises questions about driver evaluation and company oversight.
- Key evidence like ECM data, dash cam footage and driver logs will be central to understanding the crash.
- A full investigation must look at both driver behavior and company policies to determine accountability.
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