Crane Township, OH — August 5, 2025, Charles Kunce was injured due to a two-truck accident at approximately 10:15 a.m. along U.S. Highway 24.
According to authorities, 68-year-old Charles Kunce was traveling in an 18-wheeler on U.S. 24 in the vicinity of County Road 87 when the accident took place. The 18-wheeler was apparently slowing in preparation of making a right turn.
Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a dump truck failed to maintain a safe following distance behind the 18-wheeler. A collision consequently took place between the front-end of the dump truck and the rear-end of the 18-wheeler. The dump truck apparently caught on fire over the course of the accident. Both the dump truck and the 18-wheeler left the roadway and overturned in a roadside ditch.
Kunce reportedly sustained injuries of unknown severity over the course of the accident; he was flown to an area medical facility in order to receive necessary treatment. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a truck is rear-ended by another commercial vehicle while slowing to make a turn, the legal questions start with one of the most basic rules of professional driving: Did the following driver maintain a safe distance? In most cases, failure to do so is a clear sign of inattention, misjudgment, or both—and in commercial trucking, the consequences are often far more severe than in ordinary traffic.
Dump trucks and 18-wheelers both require significant stopping distance, especially when loaded. That makes space management between them absolutely critical. If the lead vehicle was slowing for a turn and the following truck still struck it hard enough to cause both vehicles to overturn—and catch fire—that suggests a total breakdown in situational awareness.
In a case like this, investigators will need to look at the dump truck’s speed, braking behavior, and whether the driver was distracted. Black box data and dash cam footage (if available) can clarify how long the lead truck was slowing, how much time the dump truck had to react, and whether evasive action was even attempted.
It’s also worth examining whether the dump truck had any mechanical problems—faulty brakes, worn tires, or overloaded cargo can all make it harder to stop in time. But even if a mechanical failure is discovered, that doesn’t automatically remove responsibility from the driver or the company that put the truck on the road in that condition.
Key Takeaways:
- Safe following distance is a fundamental rule in trucking, especially between large commercial vehicles.
- Investigators will focus on whether the dump truck driver had sufficient time and space to avoid the crash.
- Black box and dash cam data will help reconstruct driver behavior and vehicle performance leading up to the impact.
- Mechanical condition and load weight could also be relevant if they impaired the dump truck’s ability to stop.
- A proper investigation must determine whether this was a preventable crash stemming from human error, equipment failure, or both.
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