Freeborn County, MN — December 22, 2025, Alessandro Gelsomino was killed and Standley Calixte was injured in a truck accident at about 2 a.m. on Interstate 35.

Authorities said a 2015 Peterbilt semi-truck and a 2020 Freightliner semi-truck collided in the median while going north on the icy highway near mile marker 20.

Peterbilt driver Alessandro Gelsomino, 46, of Miami, FL died from injuries suffered in the crash north of Clarks Grove, according to authorities.

Freightliner driver Standley Calixte, 34, of Hamilton, NJ was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a crash between two 18-wheelers on an icy interstate, a lot of questions naturally come to mind. Chief among them: How exactly did two trucks collide in the median while both were headed in the same direction? And how does that happen at 2 a.m. without some clear breakdown in driving behavior or vehicle control?

From the information available, we know both trucks were northbound on I-35 and ended up in a median collision. One driver died, the other was injured. But that still leaves a crucial piece of the puzzle missing: What specifically caused these vehicles to end up in the same space at the same time?

Right now, we don’t know if one of the trucks lost control on the icy road, if one tried to change lanes and overcorrected, or if either was stopped or moving when the collision happened. Each possibility opens up a very different line of inquiry. Was one truck disabled or parked on the side of the road? Did one attempt to pass and misjudge the distance or speed? Without that clarity, it’s impossible to know who, if anyone, violated the rules of the road—or if something else entirely was at play.

That’s why any serious investigation into a crash like this has to go beyond weather conditions or surface-level assumptions. For example, what does the engine control module (ECM) from each truck say? That’s the truck’s "black box," and it records speed, braking, steering input and other critical data just before impact. If there were dash cams or in-cab monitoring systems on either vehicle, those could reveal whether a driver was alert, distracted or otherwise impaired. Cell phone records can show whether anyone was using their phone at the time. All of that is concrete, verifiable evidence.

Investigators also need to look at company hiring and training practices. I’ve handled cases where a truck driver was hired despite a string of past incidents and clear red flags. In one case, the driver had been fired multiple times before being handed the keys to a loaded 18-wheeler. The employer’s vetting process? A 20-minute road test that supposedly simulated all conditions: day, night and bad weather. That’s not hiring; that’s gambling.

In this case, both trucks were reportedly from different states: Florida and New Jersey. That makes it even more important to examine each company’s internal safety systems, dispatch records, driver logs and maintenance documentation. Did both drivers have adequate rest? Was one trying to meet a tight delivery schedule despite dangerous road conditions? We won’t know unless someone goes out and gets that evidence.

Crashes like this don't always have a simple cause, but they do have a discoverable one. It just takes the right questions, and the right tools, to get to the bottom of it.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear what caused two northbound trucks to collide in the median.
• ECM data, dash cams and cell phone records could provide critical insights.
• Driver behavior, training and company oversight all warrant close examination.
• Ice may have contributed, but weather alone doesn’t explain how this happened.
• Thorough investigation is needed to ensure accountability for preventable failures.