Woodford County, KY — September 12, 2025, Casey Whitlock, Matthew Jackson and John McBroom were killed and three other people were injured in a truck accident at about 7:30 p.m. on Interstate 64.
Authorities said four semi-trucks and two passenger cars were involved in a crash on westbound I-64 near mile marker 61. The crash sparked a fire on the highway near Midway.
Paris resident Casey Whitlock, 50; Cincinnati, OH resident Matthew Jackson, 43; and Crittenden resident John McBroom, 39, died in the crash, according to authorities.
It is not clear how they were involved in the crash, but authorities said two truck drivers died, along with a person that had been in one of the cars.
Another truck driver was injured, as well as two people who were in one of the passenger cars, according to authorities. Their names or the severity of their injuries have not been made public yet.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Woodford County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people read about a crash that involves four semi-trucks, kills three people and injures several more, they naturally want to know: How does something like that happen? Who was responsible for letting it happen? And is there any chance we’re getting the full story?
Right now, we know this happened on a major interstate at 7:30 p.m., a time when visibility is still decent and traffic is usually steady but not yet sparse. What we don’t know is what caused the crash, who triggered the chain reaction or even how the vehicles were positioned when everything unfolded. Without those facts, a lot of critical questions remain unanswered.
When I see a report that says multiple 18-wheelers and passenger vehicles were involved, one of the first things I ask is: Which truck started the domino effect? That’s not about assigning blame for its own sake. It’s about understanding what really caused the loss of life here. For example, if one of those trucks was following too closely, distracted or speeding, it could have created a scenario where the other trucks and cars didn’t stand a chance.
Of course, there’s also the possibility of cargo issues, like an improperly secured load shifting in transit. That can destabilize a trailer and lead to catastrophic consequences, especially if other trucks are traveling close behind. I’ve handled cases where a single loose item turned a highway into a hazard zone, and the crash only made sense once we traced the loading decisions and cargo restraints back to their source.
On the technology side, we need to ask what evidence is available. These days, most commercial trucks are equipped with engine control modules (ECMs), a kind of black box that records speed, brake usage and other key data in the moments before a crash. Many also have in-cab cameras, which can confirm whether a driver was distracted or reacting to something unexpected. And then there’s the driver’s cell phone usage, route plan and driving history, all of which could offer valuable clues.
What’s especially troubling here is that the three people who lost their lives included two truck drivers. That suggests this wasn’t a case of a truck running over smaller vehicles from behind. It points to a multi-vehicle entanglement, possibly with vehicles getting sandwiched or pushed into one another. Was one of the trucks stopped on the highway? Did a fire break out because of a fuel tank breach, or was there a secondary collision after the first impact? We don’t know yet, but those are exactly the kinds of facts that have to come out in an investigation.
And if one of these trucking companies had a history of cutting corners on driver vetting, maintenance or safety practices? Well, that matters too. I’ve handled cases where the driver wasn’t the root of the problem at all. It was the company that hired someone unfit for the road or failed to train them properly.
Until those questions are answered, no one can say with certainty who’s accountable. But we can say this: getting to the truth will require more than a surface-level investigation.
Key Takeaways:
- With four semis and two passenger vehicles involved, determining which truck initiated the crash is critical.
- Black box data, dash cams and cell phone records may provide crucial evidence about what happened in the moments leading up to the collision.
- The death of two truck drivers suggests a multi-vehicle entanglement, not a simple rear-end collision.
- Investigators will need to examine cargo security, driver behavior and trucking company practices to identify all contributing factors.
- Accountability can’t be assigned until a full independent investigation reveals the facts behind the crash.
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