Logan County, OH — May 27, 2025, Ashley Young and two children were injured in a truck accident at about 6 p.m. on U.S. Route 68.

Authorities said a 2022 Volvo semi-truck collided with a 2018 Hyundai Elantra that was crossing the highway on State Route 273 east of Belle Center.

Hyundai driver Ashley Young, 34, was hospitalized with serious injuries after the crash, according to authorities. Two children, ages 4 and 14, in the car suffered minor injuries.

The truck driver was not injured in the collision, authorities said.

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

Commentary

When people hear that a semi-truck hit a car crossing a highway, their first thought is usually, “How did that happen?” That’s the right question, but it’s one that can’t be answered just by reading a police report. The fact that a car was hit while crossing U.S. Route 68 raises immediate and serious concerns: Was the truck going too fast? Did the car fail to yield? Did either party see the other in time to brake?

Authorities say a semi-truck collided with a car crossing from State Route 273. That tells us the vehicles weren’t traveling in the same direction, but it leaves a lot unsaid. Was the truck barreling down a straightaway with no time to react? Was the car creeping into the intersection thinking it had more time than it did? These are exactly the kinds of details that can’t be guessed; they have to be proven with evidence.

To get clarity, an investigation should start with the truck’s onboard systems. The engine control module (ECM), the truck’s black box, can show how fast the truck was moving, whether the brakes were applied and even how hard the driver tried to stop. If the truck had forward-facing cameras or in-cab footage, that could reveal what the driver saw and when. Phone records might also confirm whether the driver was distracted at the time. Without this evidence, it's impossible to say whether the truck driver could or should have avoided the crash.

Another key piece of the puzzle is line of sight. Depending on how the intersection is laid out, visibility might be limited by curves, trees or elevation. That could explain why the car entered the highway when it did, but it could also suggest a failure to proceed with proper caution. Again, these aren't questions of blame; they're questions of fact that need hard evidence.

Finally, there’s the broader context. Trucking companies have a duty to make sure their drivers are properly trained to navigate intersections safely and to respond appropriately when other drivers make mistakes. In previous cases I’ve handled, companies hired drivers with poor records or failed to train them for real-world situations. Sometimes the crash isn't just about what the driver did in the moment, but what the company failed to do long before.

Key Takeaways

• It's unclear whether the truck had the right-of-way or whether the car misjudged the speed of oncoming traffic.
• Evidence like ECM data, dash cams and phone records will be essential to determine how and why this crash occurred.
• Intersection design and visibility could play a role in assessing fault.
• Trucking company hiring and training practices may also be relevant depending on what the investigation finds.
• True accountability depends on a full investigation; not just assumptions about who hit whom.