North Haven, CT — July 9, 2025, One person was injured following an 18-wheelr accident that occurred sometime Wednesday on Interstate 91.

According to official reports, an 18-wheeler hauling water bottles was traveling southbound on Interstate 91 near Washington Avenue, when for unknown reasons the truck lost control and overturned.

Wen first responders arrived on the scene they found the driver had sustained unspecified injuries and transported them to the hospital for treatment. No other vehicles were involved in the crash, and the status of the driver as-well-as an update on the investigation's status has not been released by officials.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When an 18-wheeler crashes without any other vehicles involved, the natural question people have is: How does a fully loaded truck just lose control? The report doesn’t offer much detail—only that the truck overturned while hauling water bottles on I-91. But without knowing why it tipped, it’s impossible to know if this was just a freak accident or the result of preventable errors.

Right away, one detail stands out: the truck was carrying bottled water, which is a heavy and shift-prone cargo. Depending on how it was loaded and secured, even a minor swerve or brake maneuver could destabilize the trailer. If the pallets weren't properly strapped down or spaced evenly, they could have shifted and pulled the truck off balance. I've seen cases where cargo that seemed harmless—like office paper or canned goods—ended up playing a huge role in a rollover because someone skipped a step during loading.

That brings up another question: Who loaded the trailer? If it was done by a third-party warehouse or shipper, they may share responsibility if poor loading contributed to the crash. The trucking company is still responsible for inspecting the load before hitting the road, but the chain of accountability may stretch beyond just the driver.

Of course, it’s also possible the truck experienced a mechanical failure—bad brakes, a blown tire, or even a steering issue. But we won’t know unless someone pulls the maintenance logs and downloads the truck’s black box data. The ECM can show whether the driver braked, swerved, or accelerated suddenly. Cell phone records could also confirm whether distraction played a role. None of that is mentioned in the report, but those are standard parts of any thorough investigation.

And while the driver survived and was taken to the hospital, we still don’t know their current condition. Nor do we know what—if anything—authorities have concluded from the crash scene. Without transparency, it’s easy for critical details to go unexamined.

Key Takeaways:

• It's unclear why the truck lost control and overturned—several causes like load shift, mechanical failure, or driver error need to be considered.
• Bottled water is a heavy cargo that can destabilize a trailer if not properly secured.
• Whoever loaded the truck—and whether proper loading procedures were followed—could play a key role in determining fault.
• Black box data, maintenance records, and cell phone logs are crucial to understanding the sequence of events.
• A full investigation should look beyond the surface to ensure all contributing factors are identified and addressed.