Chester Township, OH — February 24, 2025 Charles Riedlinger was injured as the result of a commercial truck accident at around 9:20 p.m. on I-71.

According to preliminary details from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the crash happened near Center Road, northwest of Wilmington.

Investigators identified 18-year-old Charles Riedlinger as a passenger in a Dodge Ram pulling a trailer along southwest lanes of the interstate. Due to reasons not clear right now, the Dodge and a semi-truck going the same direction collided.

Riedlinger sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision. There did not appear to be any other injuries. Additional details are unavailable right now.

Commentary

Any commercial vehicle accident is going to present unique challenges. Not only is there the inherent chaos of two large vehicles crashing, there are companies involved who certainly won't be prioritizing the victims' best interests. Gathering as much evidence as possible, then, can be crucial for victims and families affected by a crash like this.

How fast were the vehicles going? Did either vehicle have broken lights, or did they fail to signal? Did the crash involve a driver fatigued due to unreasonable work hours? Was the cause of the crash inexperience or reckless behavior that could have been prevented? Did safety features like airbags and seatbelts function properly? Did authorities take steps to preserve electronic data—such as Engine Control Module info or dashcam video—before it was removed from the scene?

These are the kinds of questions I can reliably expect independent accident reconstructionists to look into. Authorities, however, are not always as thorough as people would expect. That's why it can be crucial to have a second set of eyes on the crash as soon as possible. Either they can confirm that authorities are doing a good job, or they'll reveal details that otherwise would have slipped through the cracks.