Stonewall, LA — November 26, 2025, Brandy Thomas was killed in a truck accident at about 7:50 p.m. on U.S. Highway 171.

Authorities said a 2024 Nissan Altima was stopped at a traffic signal at Griffin Drive when it was hit from behind by a southbound 2015 Freightliner semi-truck.

Nissan driver Brandy Thomas, 35, was hospitalized with serious injuries, according to authorities. The Shreveport resident died November 28.

The truck driver was not injured, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the DeSoto Parish crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a woman was hit and killed while stopped at a red light, their first reaction is usually the same: How does something like that even happen? A traffic signal is one of the few places on the road where everything is supposed to come to a stop. So when a fully loaded 18-wheeler slams into the back of a stationary car, the most pressing question becomes why?

According to early reports, a Nissan Altima was stopped at a red light on U.S. Highway 171 in Stonewall when a southbound semi-truck crashed into it from behind. The woman in the Altima later died from her injuries. What we don’t know yet, and what really matters, is why that truck failed to stop. Without those details, no one can draw a responsible conclusion about who should be held accountable.

One possibility is simple driver error: Was the trucker distracted or fatigued? Was he using a cell phone or fiddling with an in-cab device? Black box data, dash cam footage and phone records could all shed light on that. But there’s also the question of whether the truck’s braking system was functioning properly. If there was a mechanical failure, that’s something investigators would need to verify through a close inspection of the truck itself.

It’s also worth asking what kind of training the driver had. Did the trucking company thoroughly vet his background before putting him behind the wheel of a 40-ton vehicle? I’ve handled cases where a trucking company hired drivers with a record of multiple firings and safety violations; drivers who never should’ve been on the road in the first place. That kind of failure doesn't show up in a police report, but it can be the hidden cause behind what seems like a simple rear-end crash.

The point is, until there’s a full investigation into the events leading up to this wreck, all we have are unanswered questions. It’s not enough to know that a crash occurred. We need to understand why it happened and whether it could have been prevented. That kind of truth doesn’t come from assumptions. It comes from evidence.

Key Takeaways:

• A stopped vehicle at a red light being rear-ended by a semi-truck raises serious questions about driver attention and equipment condition.
• Critical evidence like black box data, in-cab cameras and phone records may explain why the truck failed to stop.
• The trucking company’s hiring, training and maintenance practices could be central to determining responsibility.
• A proper investigation must go beyond the crash scene to examine both driver conduct and company policies.
• Accountability should be based on verifiable facts, not assumptions, and that requires digging deeper than an initial police report.