Davidson County, TN — April 9, 2025, Pritam "Peter" Singh was killed and two were injured as the result of a semi-trailer accident at around 2:00 a.m. along I-24.

Preliminary information from officials says that the accident occurred north of Nashville near the intersection of Old Hickory Boulevard.

Investigators said that 42-year-old Peter Singh was in a Nissan Altima with two others going along westbound lanes of the interstate. Up ahead, a tractor-trailer which had pulled onto the shoulder reportedly merged back into traffic lanes. The Nissan clipped the trailer's wheels, then ran off-road and overturned.

Due to the accident, Peter Singh was killed. The other two people in the Nissan reportedly had injuries. Right now, additional details about the accident are unavailable. Police have not reported any charges or citations.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a car clipped the wheels of a semi-trailer and then ran off the road, the situation might sound straightforward—but it’s anything but. Crashes involving large trucks and passenger vehicles, especially in the early morning hours on a major highway, demand close scrutiny. In this case, a man lost his life and two others were injured after their vehicle reportedly struck a semi that was re-entering traffic from the shoulder. That single detail—re-entering from the shoulder—raises a series of important legal and investigative questions.

What Happens When a Semi Merges Back into Traffic?

It’s easy to underestimate how risky it is when a commercial truck re-enters active lanes from the shoulder. These vehicles are large, slow to accelerate, and often have major blind spots. Because of that, federal regulations and industry best practices require truck drivers to exercise extreme caution during this maneuver. But those are just rules on paper. Whether they were followed in this case remains to be seen.

The key question is: Was the truck's re-entry maneuver safe and lawful under the circumstances?

To answer that, investigators would need to examine:

• Dash cam footage, which could show whether the truck signaled properly or moved into traffic abruptly.
• Black box (ECM) data, which might reveal how fast the truck was going, whether it paused on the shoulder, and what actions the driver took as they merged.
• Scene evidence, such as skid marks or impact points, to determine how far into the lane the trailer had moved when the collision occurred.
• Lighting and visibility conditions, especially since this crash happened around 2:00 a.m., when reaction time is often reduced and visual cues are harder to judge.

Did the Passenger Vehicle Have a Fair Chance to Avoid the Truck?

Another layer of complexity is whether the Nissan had enough time and space to respond to the truck’s movement. If the trailer was still partially in the shoulder, the car might have been able to pass safely. But if the trailer was fully or mostly in the lane by the time it was visible, the window for avoidance might have been dangerously narrow. These are fact-intensive questions that can't be answered without a full investigation.

Shared Roads, Shared Responsibilities

Truck drivers have an obligation to re-enter traffic in a way that doesn't put others at risk. At the same time, other drivers are expected to keep a lookout and respond appropriately. Determining who had the legal right-of-way is important—but not always the end of the story. I've handled cases where a truck's technically legal action still created an unreasonable danger, often because the company failed to train the driver properly or pressured them to stay on a tight schedule.

That’s why evidence collection can’t stop at the crash scene. Investigators should also look into the trucking company’s hiring and training practices, trip schedules, and maintenance logs to understand the full context.

Key Takeaways

• The central question is whether the truck’s re-entry into traffic from the shoulder was done safely and in accordance with traffic laws.
• Early-morning lighting conditions and truck visibility are likely to play a significant role in understanding how this crash unfolded.
• Dash cams, black box data, and scene analysis are essential to determining fault.
• Trucking company practices may need to be scrutinized if the driver lacked proper training or was under pressure to rejoin traffic quickly.
• Like many commercial vehicle crashes, this one involves far more than a momentary mistake—it demands a full and thorough investigation.