Bonner County, ID — March 14, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 10 a.m. on U.S. Route 95 near Samuels.

Authorities said a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado was headed north when it apparently drifted into the opposite lane, crashing head-on into a 2024 Freightliner semi-truck.

The Chevrolet driver, a 48-year-old man from Athol, died at the scene of the crash near mile marker 487 north of Samuels, according to authorities. His name has not been made public yet.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Bonner County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Head-on collisions involving semi-trucks and passenger vehicles raise serious concerns about how and why both vehicles ended up in the same space at the same time. In this case, reports indicate that a Chevrolet Silverado drifted into the opposite lane on U.S. Route 95 and collided with a Freightliner semi-truck. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to driver error, road conditions or another contributing factor.

One of the first questions investigators should answer is why the Silverado veered into oncoming traffic. Reviewing black box data, phone records and any available witness statements could help clarify what happened.

Another key factor is road design and conditions. Many rural highways, like this section of U.S. Route 95, have only one lane in each direction, with little room for error. Were there sharp curves, uneven shoulders or other factors that could have made it difficult for the driver to stay in their lane? If the road lacked proper markings or had hazards that contributed to the crash, those should be examined closely.

Speed is also a critical issue. Large trucks take much longer to stop than passenger vehicles, and if the Silverado drifted into the truck’s path with little warning, the truck driver may have had no time to react. Investigators should review black box data from the truck to determine its speed and braking activity before impact.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on the immediate collision without investigating why the Silverado crossed into oncoming traffic they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a full understanding of what went wrong.