Newtown, CT — November 6, 2025, Valdemir Santana was killed in a truck accident at about 6:15 p.m. on Hawleyville Road near Interstate 84.
Authorities said a semi-truck hauling construction equipment stopped on the shoulder of Hawleyville Road. The driver got out of the truck before it started moving forward and hit him before coming to rest near a commuter lot along the interstate.
Driver Valdemir Santana, 62, of Danbury was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Fairfield County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear that a man was killed after being run over by his own truck, the natural reaction is confusion. How does something like that even happen? Was it mechanical failure? Driver error? Something else? Right now, the public has more questions than answers, and that’s exactly why a thorough investigation is so important.
Authorities say the truck was parked on the shoulder and that the driver had exited the cab before the truck started moving and struck him. But that still leaves out critical details. Was the truck running at the time? Was the parking brake engaged? Did a component fail, or did the truck start rolling on its own? It’s not clear whether the truck was on an incline, or if the driver may have attempted to re-enter the cab before it moved. Each of these unknowns points to a different potential cause, and potentially different responsible parties.
Getting clarity in a case like this starts with gathering the right evidence. Modern 18-wheelers are equipped with or engine control modules that record important data like brake pressure, throttle position and whether the truck was in gear. Dash cams, if installed, may show whether the driver was trying to stop the truck or was caught off guard. And maintenance records could reveal whether something failed that shouldn’t have.
Mechanical issues, if they played a role, don’t necessarily mean it was “just an accident.” If the company neglected basic upkeep, or sent the driver out with faulty equipment, then they could bear significant responsibility. Similarly, if improper procedures or training led the driver to believe the truck was safely secured when it wasn’t, those facts matter. I’ve handled cases where poor training and faulty assumptions turned ordinary tasks into fatal errors.
It’s too early to know exactly what went wrong here, but one thing is clear: this isn’t just a case of bad luck. A man lost his life, and the only way to determine how and why is by pulling every thread: black box data, mechanical inspections, company records and eyewitness testimony. Only then can we understand what happened and who may be accountable.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s unclear what caused the truck to start moving after the driver exited.
- Key questions include whether the parking brake was engaged and if the truck had mechanical issues.
- ECM data, dash cams and maintenance records will be critical to understanding the cause.
- Depending on the findings, responsibility could lie with the driver, the company or a third party.
- Thorough investigation is essential to getting to the truth and ensuring accountability.
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