Harrison County, IA — March 25, 2025, Jonathan Terpstra and Kreece Robinson were injured in a truck accident at about 12:45 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 29.

Authorities said a 2024 Toyota Corolla lost control and veered out of its lane near mile marker 92, and a 2001 Freightliner semi-truck tried to move to the left lane to avoid a collision, but it hit the back of the smaller vehicle, according to authorities. The truck overturned after the collision, while the Toyota ended up in the ditch on the west side of the road.

Toyota driver Jonathan Terpstra, 27, and truck driver Kreece Robinson, 25, were hospitalized with undisclosed injuries, according to authorities.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a commercial truck overturns while trying to avoid a smaller vehicle that has lost control, it’s often the final step in a chain of small failures or miscalculations, some preventable, some not. In this case, reports indicate that a Toyota Corolla veered unexpectedly on Interstate 29, and a semi-truck moved to avoid it but ended up striking the car and overturning. Both drivers were hospitalized, and the full investigation is still pending. But even now, there are a few key issues that deserve closer attention.

First, there’s the matter of why the passenger vehicle lost control in the first place. Was the road slick? Was the driver fatigued or distracted? Late-night crashes like this often involve reduced visibility and higher speeds, which can magnify small steering inputs or overcorrections. If the Toyota’s erratic movement was caused by inattention, impairment or even a mechanical failure, those details will be essential in determining how much of the incident was truly avoidable.

Then there’s the truck’s response. In theory, a lane change to avoid a collision is the right move. But in practice, shifting lanes in a fully loaded semi-truck — especially at highway speeds — comes with its own risks. The fact that the truck ultimately struck the smaller vehicle and overturned suggests that either the maneuver was initiated too late or that road conditions and spacing didn’t give the driver enough time to recover. Investigators will need to review dashcam footage and black box data to determine the truck’s speed, following distance and how quickly the driver responded.

This crash also raises questions about lane discipline and space management. Trucks require more time and distance to make safe maneuvers. If the Toyota was weaving or drifting unpredictably, the truck may have had no good options in the moment. On the other hand, if the truck was following too closely or wasn’t anticipating erratic behavior from nearby traffic — something experienced drivers are trained to do — that could have made a bad situation worse.

At this stage, there’s no way to know for certain what led to the initial loss of control, but one thing is clear: the moment that smaller car veered out of its lane, a large vehicle and its driver were left with only high-risk decisions. A thorough investigation should focus on the behavior of both vehicles leading up to the crash, including vehicle speeds, spacing, road conditions and any evidence of distraction or impairment. Because when a truck ends up on its side, it’s rarely the result of one mistake: it’s usually the result of several things going wrong in quick succession.