Van Meter, IA — January 29, 2025, Charles Huddleston was killed in a truck accident at about 10 p.m. on westbound Interstate 80.

Authorities said a 2011 Ford Escape crashed into the back of a semi-truck in a construction zone near mile marker 113. The Ford veered off the road and flipped over after the collision.

Ford driver Charles Huddleston, 81, died after being airlifted to an area hospital after the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I read about a rear-end crash involving a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck, my first thought is that most people will assume the driver who hit the truck is to blame. That’s an easy conclusion to reach, but in my experience, it’s not always the right one. Crashes like these often have more to them than meets the eye, and the only way to get to the truth is through a thorough investigation that goes beyond the crash scene.

One key question that needs answering is: Was the truck properly visible? It’s easy to assume that a semi-truck is a massive, obvious presence on the road. But I’ve seen plenty of cases where poor lighting, a lack of reflective tape or even a truck that was stopped or moving too slowly in an active lane of traffic made it difficult for an approaching driver to see it in time. Construction zones only add to that risk, as lane shifts, uneven pavement and confusing signage can create unexpected hazards that make a rear-end collision more likely.

Another important factor is whether the truck was moving or stopped at the time of impact. A legally parked truck on the shoulder is one thing, but I’ve handled cases where trucks stopped in an active lane — or crawled through construction zones at unsafe speeds — put other drivers in a dangerous situation with little room to react. The fact that the Ford flipped after the crash could suggest that it struck the truck at an angle or that road conditions played a role, both of which need closer scrutiny.

It’s also worth asking whether the truck’s lights and warnings were functioning properly. Construction zones require extra caution from all drivers, but if a semi-truck didn’t have the proper hazard lights, reflective markings or underride guards in place, then a crash like this could have been much harder to avoid. I’ve worked cases where a trailer lacked required reflective tape, making it nearly invisible at night, and that led to deadly rear-end collisions.

At this stage, we don’t have enough information to say who is responsible for this crash. What we do know is that many truck accidents aren’t as simple as they first appear. The key takeaway is that real investigations don’t stop at the crash scene. They should include a detailed look at the truck’s position, visibility, movement and compliance with safety standards. Without that, authorities may miss critical details that could change how this crash is understood.