On the afternoon of June 5, a crash involving a semi-truck and a pickup sent one man to the hospital in Austin, Minnesota. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the crash occurred around 12:47 p.m. on westbound Interstate 90 near the Fourth Street Northwest overpass. A 2023 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2025 Kenworth semi-truck were both traveling westbound when they collided. The driver of the pickup, 62-year-old Michael William Kiesler of Waseca, was taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital-Saint Marys with non-life-threatening injuries. The semi-truck driver was not injured. Authorities have not released additional details about what led to the collision.
With both vehicles reportedly moving in the same direction at the time of the crash, a key part of the investigation will involve determining how the impact occurred. An investigation should uncover whether one vehicle changed lanes, slowed unexpectedly, or if there were other contributing factors.
What Evidence Will Help Clarify the Cause?
At this stage, the cause of the crash remains unclear. Investigators will likely examine physical evidence from the scene, such as vehicle positions, impact angles, and skid marks. This can help establish whether the pickup was rear-ended by the semi, sideswiped during a lane change, or whether both drivers were attempting to navigate around an obstacle or slow-moving traffic. In my experience, these details are essential for understanding how the crash developed.
Could Inattention or Equipment Issues Be Involved?
As with any collision involving a semi-truck, it’s important to evaluate whether the truck driver had sufficient time to react and whether they were fully alert at the time. Investigators may look at whether distraction or fatigue played a role, as well as the truck’s mechanical condition. A failure in the braking or steering system could make it harder for a driver to avoid a crash, even if they respond appropriately.
What Can ECM Data Reveal?
The Engine Control Module (ECM) from the semi-truck may offer valuable insights into speed, throttle use, and braking activity in the seconds leading up to the crash. This data can help clarify how quickly the truck was moving, whether the driver attempted to slow down, and how sudden any evasive maneuvers were. Combined with any available dashcam footage, this evidence can paint a more complete picture of what happened.
Why Careful Investigation Matters
Even when injuries are not life-threatening, crashes involving semi-trucks often involve complex dynamics that require close examination. In this case, it’s still unclear which vehicle initiated the sequence of events or whether other factors contributed. From my perspective, identifying exactly how and why the crash occurred is essential to answering the questions of those affected.