Macon County, MO — March 26, 2025, One person was killed following an 18-wheeler accident that occurred at around 7:15 A.M. on MO 156.

Authorities are investigating after an 18-wheeler accident resulted in the death of of person on the morning of March 26th. According to official statements, an 18-wheeler operated by a 61-year-old man from Arizona was traveling on Missouri Highway 156 just outside of La Plata when for unknown reasons the semi lost control and overturned.

Upon arrival by emergency crews they found that the driver had been fatally injured and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.. At this time it is unclear what caused the truck to lose control, and so far investigators are still piecing together all the details from the crash, however this remains an ongoing investigation, and additional information may be released by officials at a later date.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a commercial truck crashes and the driver loses their life, the conversation often stops at the surface-level explanation—that the truck simply "lost control." But the phrase doesn't tell us much, and without further investigation, it risks leaving critical questions unanswered. In any fatal crash involving an 18-wheeler, there are three key questions that must be answered in order to fully understand what happened: Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? And has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?

Starting with the investigation itself, it’s not enough to document that the truck overturned. Investigators need to look at the roadway—was it curved or sloped? Were there any signs of sudden braking, steering input, or mechanical failure? Did the truck leave skid marks, or was there evidence of the vehicle leaving the lane prior to overturning? A detailed reconstruction, especially in commercial crashes, is essential to determine whether the event was caused by driver input, environmental conditions, or some other factor. Yet not every agency is equipped with the time, tools, or training to perform a commercial vehicle crash analysis at that level.

The second question—often overlooked in single-vehicle crashes—is whether a mechanical issue or design defect may have played a role. The systems on an 18-wheeler are complex, and failures in brakes, steering components, suspension, or tires can lead to loss of control in an instant. Additionally, improperly balanced or shifting cargo can compromise stability. These types of issues are generally invisible without a forensic inspection of the vehicle. For that reason, the truck must be preserved so that qualified experts can examine it before any repairs are made or it's scrapped. That step is frequently missed unless someone acts quickly to secure the evidence.

Finally, we have to consider the importance of electronic data. Most modern commercial trucks are equipped with electronic control modules (ECMs) and sometimes additional telematics systems that record pre-crash information. Speed, brake pressure, throttle input, and steering behavior can all be retrieved if the data is secured in time. This information can confirm or refute initial assumptions about how the crash occurred and can be pivotal in determining whether the driver attempted to take corrective action. Additionally, dashcam footage, if available, can add a layer of visual clarity to the sequence of events.

Right now, the public knows only that a truck overturned and that the driver was killed. But crashes like this are rarely that simple. Without answers to these three questions, key causes—whether mechanical, environmental, or data-related—may never be uncovered. And when that happens, opportunities to learn from the incident and prevent future losses are lost along with it. Asking the right questions, preserving the right evidence, and seeking the full picture is how we honor the seriousness of what took place and ensure no factor is left unexamined.