One person was killed Monday morning in a collision involving a tractor-trailer on Route 11 in Hunlock Township. According to the Luzerne County Coroner, 20-year-old Sebastian Shepherd of Dalton was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred around 8:15 a.m. near the SCI Retreat bridge and involved a car and a semi-truck that was transporting an oversized modular home. The exact circumstances leading to the collision have not yet been disclosed and the Pennsylvania State Police are actively investigating the scene.
Whenever a crash involves a tractor-trailer hauling oversized cargo, there are many moving parts that investigators must examine carefully. From my experience handling commercial vehicle crashes, it’s clear that determining fault or failure in such incidents requires a thorough, fact-driven process.
What Happened Leading Up to the Crash?
When a truck is transporting an oversized load, additional safety considerations come into play—a wider turning radius, longer stopping distances, escort vehicle protocols, and permit compliance, to name a few. Investigators will need to determine whether the oversized load was being hauled according to proper guidelines and whether any movements of the truck contributed to the collision. At the same time, the dynamics of the car's approach to the scene should also be evaluated to piece together what each driver was doing in the moments before impact.
What Evidence Should Be Reviewed?
To get a clearer picture of the crash, investigators will likely review the semi-truck’s Engine Control Module (ECM) data, which can reveal vehicle speed, braking, and throttle activity in the seconds before the collision. They’ll also want to collect physical evidence from the scene, such as tire marks, vehicle resting positions, and points of impact, along with any available dash camera footage or eyewitness statements. For trucks transporting oversized loads, the proper permits, route approvals, and use of escort vehicles must also be scrutinized.
The Importance of a Comprehensive Investigation
From my perspective, a fatal crash involving a semi-truck is never something that should be assessed at face value. Whether the collision stemmed from driver error, vehicle condition, or something more procedural like inadequate load handling, the only way to get answers is through a methodical and impartial investigation.