UPDATE (November 24, 2025): Recent reports have been released which have identified the woman who lost her life as a result of this accident as 57-year-old Annette Kostelnick. These reports also clarify that the 18-wheeler which was struck in the accident was parked at the time of the wreck. No further information is currently available. Investigations continue.

Luzerne County, PA — November 20, 2025, a woman was killed and another was injured in a truck accident sometime in the afternoon along North Pennsylvania Avenue.

According to authorities, a 57-year-old woman and her sister were traveling in an SUV off of North Pennsylvania Avenue when the accident took place. The exact location of the wreck has not been specified in news reports.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the SUV was involved in an a collision with an 18-wheeler. The 57-year-old reportedly sustained fatal injuries due to the wreck. Her sister suffered injuries of unknown severity, as well, according to reports; she was transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment.

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

Thanks to the update, we now know that the 18-wheeler involved in this fatal collision was parked at the time of the crash. That changes the legal landscape considerably, but it doesn’t simplify it. In fact, it introduces a new set of questions: Where was the truck parked? Was it legally and safely positioned? And could the driver of the SUV reasonably have seen it in time to avoid a collision?

A parked truck isn’t automatically off the hook just because it wasn’t moving. In prior cases I’ve handled, we’ve found that parked commercial vehicles—especially in urban or mixed-use areas—can pose serious hazards if they’re left in the wrong place, at the wrong angle, or without proper warnings. That includes failing to use hazard lights, reflective triangles, or even just choosing a location with poor visibility.

At the same time, it’s also important to consider what was happening inside the SUV. Was the driver impaired, distracted, or suffering a medical episode? Did something obscure the view of the parked truck? Without knowing more about the road conditions, lighting, and surrounding traffic, there’s no way to say definitively what happened—or who, if anyone, was negligent.

That’s why investigators need to secure and review dash cam footage, street surveillance, vehicle data, and witness statements. A parked 18-wheeler and a moving SUV should not collide unless something went wrong. The job now is to figure out exactly what that was—and whether it was preventable.

Key Takeaways:

• New information confirms the 18-wheeler was parked, shifting focus to whether it was legally and safely positioned.
• A parked truck can still be liable if it created an unreasonable hazard or violated parking rules.
• Investigators must examine road visibility, lighting, signage, and the SUV driver’s behavior.
• Dash cam or surveillance footage and black box data will be critical to reconstructing what happened.
• Even with one vehicle stationary, liability still hinges on whether both parties took reasonable precautions.