Two women were seriously injured early Monday morning after a head-on crash involving a semi-truck on Highway 101 near San Ardo, California.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash occurred just before 6 a.m. when a 64-year-old man driving a Freightliner northbound on Highway 101 crossed through the median and began traveling in the wrong direction. A Buick carrying three people then struck the semi head-on. Two passengers in the Buick—a 45-year-old woman and a 75-year-old woman—suffered major injuries and were transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas for treatment.
When I hear about a semi-truck crossing a highway median and driving the wrong way, I immediately think about the mechanical and operational factors that may have led to such a severe breakdown in control. In my experience, incidents like this don’t happen without a clear root cause, and uncovering that cause starts with a thorough investigation.
Could Mechanical Issues Have Caused the Truck to Leave Its Lane?
Any time a commercial truck crosses a highway median and ends up driving against traffic, it’s essential to ask whether something on the vehicle failed. Investigators will likely examine the truck’s steering and suspension systems, tires, and braking components to see if any defects or failures played a role.
A mechanical malfunction—like a sudden steering issue, brake failure, or tire blowout—could cause a driver to lose control and veer off course. It’s also important to check the truck’s service history and inspection records to determine whether any prior problems had been noted or left unaddressed.
Could Driver Fatigue or Inattention Have Played a Role?
With the crash occurring just before sunrise, it’s also possible that fatigue or inattention contributed to the semi-truck’s departure from its lane. Long-haul drivers operating in the early morning hours may be nearing the end of a shift or struggling with alertness. Even a few seconds of microsleep or distraction could cause a truck to drift across lanes, especially on a high-speed highway.
Investigators will likely review the driver’s logbooks, rest periods, and any available dash cam or GPS data to understand the circumstances leading up to the crash. Understanding the driver’s condition at the time of the incident is just as important as evaluating the truck itself.
Was All the Relevant Evidence Collected?
To determine what caused the semi-truck to enter the wrong lanes, investigators need more than just on-scene observations. The truck’s Engine Control Module (ECM) may provide crucial data on speed, braking, and throttle inputs. Paired with physical evidence—like skid marks, vehicle damage, and debris patterns—this information can help reconstruct the timeline of the crash. Video footage from nearby traffic cameras and witness statements may also help clarify whether the truck’s movement was abrupt or gradual.
The Importance of a Detailed Investigation
Crashes where a semi-truck ends up in oncoming lanes don’t happen without a reason. Whether the cause was mechanical failure, driver fatigue, or a combination of factors, it’s essential to get to the bottom of it—especially when people are seriously injured. In my experience, only a complete investigation can provide those answers.