UPDATE (June 25, 2025): Recent reports have been released which identify the pedestrian who lost his life as a result of this truck accident as 33-year-old Tyler Kolaja. No additional information is currently available. Investigations continue.
Glendon Borough, PA — June 16, 2025, a man was killed and a woman was injured in a truck accident at approximately 10:15 p.m. along Interstate Highway 78.
According to authorities, a Chevrolet Equinox had run out of gas in the eastbound lanes of I.H. 78 in the vicinity of U.S. Highway 33 when the accident took place.
Preliminary reports state that a man was on foot pushing the Equinox while a woman was behind the wheel steering the vehicle. There was apparently an 18-wheeler at a stop in the shoulder due to being disabled. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the Equinox was struck by an 18-wheeler, as was the truck that was disabled in the shoulder.
The man reportedly suffered fatal injuries due to the wreck; the woman suffered injuries of unknown severity and was transported to a local medical facility in order to receive necessary treatment. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identities of the victims—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Most people assume that when a truck hits a slow-moving vehicle from behind, it’s a clear-cut case of driver error. But in order to know that for sure, we need to look at what the driver saw—or should have seen—and how they responded. That starts with hard evidence, not gut feelings.
If a driver is alert and scanning the road as they should be, they ought to notice a vehicle moving slowly in their lane, even at night. So when they don’t, we need to ask: were they fatigued? Distracted? Traveling too fast to react in time? Those answers don’t come from guesswork. They come from engine control module (ECM) data, in-cab cameras, and cell phone records. The ECM tells us whether the driver hit the brakes or swerved—or whether they plowed ahead without reacting at all. Camera footage, if it exists, can confirm visibility and conditions second-by-second.
But it’s not just about what the driver did. It’s also about what the trucking company knew. Did they push this driver past the point of safe operation? Did they verify his overnight driving ability? I’ve handled more than one case where a driver with a history of problems was hired without so much as a meaningful road test. When a company cuts corners on hiring and supervision, it can’t act surprised when disaster follows.
One detail here stands out: after hitting the SUV, the truck continued into a parked big rig on the shoulder. That suggests more than just a failure to brake—it may indicate a total loss of control. Whether that was due to panic, distraction, speed, or mechanical issues remains to be seen. But that kind of double impact raises serious red flags.
Accountability in a case like this won’t come from a single snapshot. It comes from putting together the entire timeline—vehicle speeds, driver behavior, road conditions, and equipment status. The evidence is there. The question is whether someone will take the time to gather it and tell the full story.
Key Takeaways:
- Whether the truck driver reacted appropriately depends on ECM data, dash cam footage, and distraction analysis.
- Hitting both a moving vehicle and a parked one points to possible loss of control, not just slow reaction time.
- Trucking company oversight—including hiring and dispatch practices—may be a factor if the driver was impaired or unqualified.
- Determining visibility conditions and warning signals will be essential to understanding the SUV’s role.
- A full investigation should reconstruct the entire sequence, not just the moment of impact.
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