Virginia Beach, VA — June 12, 2025, one person was injured in a box truck accident shortly after 7:00 a.m. along Kempsville Road.

According to authorities, the accident took place in the vicinity of the Kempsville Road and Indian River Road intersection.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a box truck as involved in a single-vehicle collision in which it apparently struck a light pole before crashing into a building. One person reportedly suffered injuries of unknown severity and was transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a commercial box truck crashes into a light pole and then plows into a building, most people assume it’s the driver’s fault. That may turn out to be true—but until investigators gather the right evidence, that’s just guesswork. The key question isn’t who got hurt, or even what got hit—it’s how and why the truck left the road in the first place.

That’s where technology comes in. Most commercial trucks are equipped with engine control modules (ECMs) that log speed, braking, and throttle data. If that data shows the driver was accelerating instead of braking—or if there was no reaction at all—that raises one set of concerns. If the driver hit the brakes too late or swerved suddenly, that suggests something else entirely. And if the data isn’t collected or reviewed, we may never get the truth.

In-cab cameras, if present, are another vital tool. They can show whether the driver was alert or distracted, whether he passed out at the wheel or reacted to something in the roadway. Paired with cell phone records and GPS tracking, that footage can help reconstruct what happened second-by-second.

But the story doesn’t end with the driver. In many cases, deeper problems lie with the company that put him behind the wheel. Did they vet his driving record? Was he properly trained? I handled a case once where a trucking company gave a 20-minute road test and called that a complete driver evaluation. The crash that followed wasn’t just foreseeable—it was baked into their process from the start. When companies skip steps, people get hurt.

Another possible factor is mechanical failure. Did a brake line rupture? Was the truck properly maintained? If the truck lost steering or suffered a blowout, that changes the picture entirely. Maintenance logs, inspection reports, and post-crash mechanical evaluations are all crucial to answering that question.

And then there’s the timeline. The crash happened just after 7:00 a.m.—was the driver at the end of a long overnight shift, or just starting his route? Fatigue plays a major role in early-morning crashes, but it can’t be confirmed without looking at logbooks and work schedules.

All of this is to say: responsibility depends on evidence. And until that evidence is gathered and reviewed, no one should rush to conclusions. The real work starts after the police leave and the cleanup begins.

Key Takeaways

• It’s not yet clear why the box truck left the roadway; ECM data, dash cams, and cell phone records could provide answers.
• Investigators should examine whether driver error, distraction, fatigue, or mechanical failure played a role.
• The trucking company’s hiring, training, and maintenance practices may be just as important as the driver’s actions.
• The crash timeline raises questions about driver fatigue and scheduling.
• Full accountability requires a thorough, evidence-based investigation—not assumptions.