Lincoln County, MO — April 2, 2025, One person was killed following an ATV accident that occurred at around 3:12 A.M. on Highway B.

An investigation is underway following an ATV accident that resulted in the death of a Troy man during the early-morning hours of April 2nd. According to official reports, a Polaris ATV was being operated by a 54-year-old man from Troy on Highway B just east of US 61, when for unknown reasons the Polaris braked suddenly resulting tin the driver becoming ejected where he was then struck by an oncoming Honda Accord.

When first responders arrived they found that the man had sustained fatal injuries and he was pronounced deceased at the scene. At this time it remains unclear what caused the abrupt braking by the ATV, and further details such as the identity of the deceased driver as-well-as the circumstances surrounding the accident are still being determined. However this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released by officials in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I read about a fatal ATV crash like the one currently under investigation in Troy, the first thing I think about is whether those affected will get the answers they deserve. It’s easy for these kinds of incidents to be written off as simple accidents, especially when they happen in the early-morning hours and involve a single-vehicle action followed by a secondary collision. But time and again, I’ve seen that getting to the truth requires us to ask three essential questions.

The first is whether the authorities conducted a thorough investigation. According to reports, the crash occurred when the Polaris ATV suddenly braked, causing the driver to be ejected and subsequently struck by a passing Honda Accord. That’s a highly unusual sequence of events. A proper investigation should include a reconstruction of the scene, measurements of skid marks or debris, interviews with the other driver, and a clear understanding of lighting and visibility conditions at the time. These tasks take time and training—not every agency has the resources to carry them out to the level these incidents demand.

The second question is whether anyone has considered the possibility of a vehicle defect. It’s reported that the ATV “braked suddenly for unknown reasons.” That phrase should immediately raise concern. ATVs like the Polaris rely on both mechanical and electronic systems to operate safely, and an uncommanded braking event could indicate a failure in the brake system, electronic throttle, or another critical component. The only way to determine that is to preserve the vehicle and have it examined by professionals trained to detect these kinds of issues. Unfortunately, if the vehicle is disposed of before this can happen, the opportunity to identify a defect is permanently lost. That’s one reason vehicle preservation should be a priority in any crash investigation.

The final piece is whether all electronic data has been gathered. While an ATV might not store much digital information, the Honda Accord almost certainly contains data in its engine control module (ECM)—the vehicle’s “black box.” This device can record speed, braking, and steering input just before and during a collision. In addition, nearby surveillance cameras, dashcams, or cell phone data could all help establish the sequence of events and clarify what each party was doing in the moments before the crash. But this type of evidence doesn’t last long—it needs to be preserved quickly or it can be lost forever.

At the end of the day, answering these three questions is how we move from speculation to understanding. A man lost his life in this crash, and whether the cause was human error, mechanical failure, or something else entirely, we owe it to him and to those who knew him to get clear, evidence-based answers.