UPDATE (January 29, 2026): Recent reports have recently been released which identify the two people who were killed as a result of this accident as 32-year-old Andrea Boatwright and 32-year-old Brandon Shaw. No further details are currently available. Investigations remain ongoing.

Wayne County, IN — January 26, 2026, two people lost their lives due to a truck accident just after 8:15 p.m. along State Highway 1.

According to authorities, two people were traveling in a southbound Kia Optima on S.H. 1 near the Cheesman Road intersection when the accident took place.

The Optima allegedly attempted to pass an 18-wheeler by moving over into the northbound lane of the highway. There, however, reports state that it was involved in a head-on collision with an oncoming International 18-wheeler.

The two people from the Optima—who had reportedly suffered fatal injuries due to the wreck—were declared deceased at the scene. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identities of the victims—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a vehicle attempts to pass an 18-wheeler on a two-lane highway and ends up in a fatal head-on collision, the key question becomes: Was the pass attempted under conditions that allowed for safe execution, or was it an unworkable decision from the start? Passing on undivided roads requires a clear view of oncoming traffic and enough distance to complete the maneuver without forcing anyone else to react defensively. At night, those margins shrink significantly.

That’s why investigators will need to determine whether the pass was legal and whether it was reasonable under the circumstances. That includes examining:

• Whether the pass took place in a legal passing zone, and whether any road markings or signage restricted that kind of maneuver;
• The visibility and lighting conditions at the time of the crash, which affect how far ahead a driver can see and judge the speed of an oncoming vehicle;
• The behavior of the truck being passed, including whether it was moving unusually slowly or obstructing the lane in a way that prompted an attempt to go around;
• The closing speed of the oncoming 18-wheeler, and whether it was traveling within posted limits;
• The time and distance available for both drivers to respond, especially the one in the oncoming lane.

In cases I’ve handled involving fatal passing attempts, there’s often more going on than a simple misjudgment. Sometimes the road itself makes it difficult to see beyond a rise or curve. Sometimes a truck is partially across the center line or moving just slow enough to frustrate following traffic. Whether the pass should have been attempted is part of the equation—but so is how each vehicle on the road contributed to the conditions that made the crash possible.

Key Takeaways:

• Fatal crashes during passing maneuvers raise questions about whether the move was legal and reasonable under the conditions.
• Visibility, speed, and road layout will be central to understanding how the driver assessed the risk.
• Investigators must evaluate the role of both trucks—whether by limiting visibility, creating pressure to pass, or failing to react.
• Even legal passing zones can become dangerous when visibility is poor or closing speeds are too high.
• Determining fault depends on a full reconstruction of timing, sight distance, and driver decision-making.