Cumberland County, NC — January 12, 2026, Charles Shearn was killed in a truck accident at about 12:30 p.m. in the 800 block of River Road/State Road 1714.

Authorities said a semi-truck was heading south near Middle River Loop when it went off the side of the road, going down an embankment into a creek.

Driver Charles Shearn was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near Fayetteville, according to authorities.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Cumberland County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Based on what’s been reported so far, we know a semi-truck left the road near Middle River Loop in Cumberland County, went down an embankment and came to rest in a creek. The driver didn’t survive. What we don’t know is what led the truck off the road in the first place, and that’s the core question any meaningful investigation should answer.

At this point, there’s no indication of what caused the crash. Did the driver lose control due to speed, distraction, fatigue or some sort of medical event? Was there a mechanical failure, such as a tire blowout or brake issue? Could another vehicle have cut the truck off, forcing it off the road? Without answers, it’s too early to assume this was simply “driver error.”

In my experience, these kinds of incidents often require more than just reading a police report. The most helpful tools in getting to the truth are pieces of evidence like:

• Engine control module (ECM) data to show how fast the truck was going, whether the brakes were applied and if the driver made any sudden steering inputs;
• Dashcam footage if available, which could show the road conditions, visibility and actions of other vehicles;
• Cell phone records to confirm whether the driver was distracted;
• Company safety policies and training logs to evaluate whether the driver was properly trained and vetted.

One reason I emphasize the company’s role is because I’ve seen cases where the problem wasn’t just what happened during the crash; it was what happened before it. In one case I handled, a driver had been fired multiple times before being hired by the company involved. Their version of a “driver evaluation” was a 20-minute road test. That’s not training; that’s cutting corners. So even if this crash looks at first glance like a single-vehicle incident, deeper digging may tell a different story.

Key Takeaways:

• The cause of the truck running off the road remains unknown. Facts are still missing.
• Key evidence like black box data, dashcam footage and phone records could clarify what happened.
• Depending on the facts, responsibility could lie with the driver, the trucking company or other parties.
• A proper investigation must include a review of driver training and hiring practices.
• Getting the full story requires looking at more than just the crash scene. It means finding out why the truck left the road in the first place.