Buckatunna, MS — December 12, 2024, one person was killed and another was injured in a truck accident at about 7:30 a.m. on U.S. 45.

Authorities said a northbound 2012 Dodge Ram crashed into a garbage truck that had been parked on the north side of the highway near Pineville Road.

A 3-year-old child who was a passenger in the Dodge died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to authorities, while the driver was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.

The driver of the 2020 Western Star garbage truck was not injured.

Authorities have not released any additional information at this time about the crash of those involved in it.

The crash is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

This crash raises significant legal questions about the placement of the garbage truck, visibility, and the actions of both drivers leading up to the incident. Given the outcome, where a child died and another person sustained critical injuries, it’s crucial that investigators carefully evaluate all contributing factors.

The first question that comes to mind is why the garbage truck was parked on the highway. Large commercial vehicles, such as garbage trucks, must follow strict rules about when and where they can stop or park to avoid creating roadway hazards. Investigators need to examine if the garbage truck was properly positioned. Was the truck fully on the shoulder, or was any part of it extending into the lane of travel? Even a small encroachment into a traffic lane can create a deadly hazard.

Was the truck parked for operational reasons (e.g., garbage collection), or was there a mechanical issue? If the stop was unplanned, the driver’s actions to mitigate risks — such as moving fully off the road — must be reviewed. If the truck was stopped for work purposes, were appropriate warning devices, such as hazard lights, reflective triangles, or beacons, deployed to alert oncoming drivers?

Rear-end or collision crashes involving parked trucks often result from poor visibility or insufficient warnings. Investigators should determine if visibility issues caused by the sun or road design issues contributed to the crash.

While it might seem straightforward that the Dodge Ram struck the parked garbage truck, a complete investigation is essential to uncovering all contributing factors. Evidence such as the truck's positioning by the road, ECM data from both vehicles and road conditions at the time of the crash will help determine whether one of the drivers or a combination of factors led to the collision.

Accidents involving parked commercial trucks often require careful scrutiny to understand whether the truck driver created an avoidable hazard. From my perspective, determining liability in this crash depends on answering critical questions about the truck’s placement, the visibility of the hazard and the pickup driver’s ability to react.