Mower County, MN — February 2, 2026, Ajish Thomas was killed and Geeesh Joseph was injured in a truck accident at about 1:20 a.m. on Interstate 90.

Authorities said a westbound semi-truck went off the road and overturned in the median.

Passenger Ajish Thomas, 45, died from injuries suffered in the crash east of Austin, according to authorities.

Driver Geeesh Joseph, 41, was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Mower County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a single-vehicle semi crash like this, the first questions are usually simple: How does a tractor-trailer leave the roadway in the middle of the night? And are we actually being told why it happened? Right now, those questions don’t have answers.

What we know is limited. A westbound semi-truck went off Interstate 90 and overturned in the median. One occupant in the truck was killed, and the driver survived with injuries. What we don’t know is far more important than what we do.

It’s not clear why the truck left the roadway. We don’t yet know whether the truck drifted, whether the driver lost control suddenly or whether something mechanical failed. At 1:20 a.m., fatigue immediately becomes a question, but it would be speculation to assume that without evidence. The same is true for distraction, speed or an evasive maneuver. None of that has been addressed by authorities.

In crashes like this, the physical scene only tells part of the story. The most reliable answers usually come from the truck itself. Engine control module data can show speed, braking, throttle input and steering just before the rollover. That data often clarifies whether the truck gradually left the roadway or whether there was a sudden event that caused the loss of control.

Other evidence matters too. If the truck was equipped with an in-cab or outward-facing camera, that footage could show lane position, driver behavior or roadway conditions. Cell phone records can confirm whether the driver was using a device. Driver logs and trip records can show how long the driver had been on duty and whether fatigue was a factor.

It’s also not clear whether this was a mechanical issue. Tire failures, steering problems or brake issues can all cause a truck to leave the road, especially at highway speeds. Those possibilities don’t resolve themselves unless the vehicle is inspected promptly and thoroughly.

When authorities release only basic facts, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing more to learn. It usually means the investigation hasn’t reached the hard questions yet. In my experience, those questions don’t get answered unless someone insists on pulling the available data and following it where it leads.

Key Takeaways

• We still don’t know why the semi-truck left the roadway and overturned.
• Fatigue, distraction, mechanical failure or a sudden maneuver are all unanswered possibilities.
• Black box data, camera footage and phone records are often the key to understanding crashes like this.
• A thorough investigation focuses on evidence, not assumptions, to determine what actually happened.