Pevely, MO — August 9, 2025, one person was killed in a concrete truck accident at about 9 a.m. on southbound Interstate 55.

Authorities said a 2016 Freightliner concrete truck overcorrected after leaving the road near Highway Z and rolled over.

The driver, a 37-year-old man from Festus, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. His name has not been made public yet.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a concrete truck left the road, overcorrected and overturned, the first question should be: Why did the truck leave the road in the first place? That detail matters because the answer determines whether this was simply a driver losing control or whether something else — like a mechanical problem, a medical emergency or even cargo issues — played a role. Right now, none of that is clear from the reports.

Overcorrection is often a symptom, not the cause. The key is to figure out what triggered the driver’s first deviation from the lane. Was the truck’s steering or suspension in good working order? Was there a distraction inside the cab, like a phone call or in-dash system, that pulled the driver’s attention away? Was there something in the roadway that forced a sudden maneuver? Without data, all we have are questions.

A thorough investigation here should start with the truck’s engine control module (the “black box”) to see the vehicle’s speed, steering input and brake use before the rollover. Dash camera footage, if the truck had it, could confirm whether the driver swerved to avoid something. Cell phone records would help rule in or out distraction. And a close look at the truck’s maintenance history could reveal if a tire blowout or steering issue contributed.

I’ve handled cases where rollovers looked like simple driver mistakes at first, but the evidence showed otherwise: sometimes a worn component or lax inspection practices created a hazard long before the driver left the yard. That’s why relying only on the initial police report almost never tells the full story.

Key Takeaways:

• The cause of the truck leaving the roadway is still unknown, and that’s the first question that needs answering.
• Overcorrection is usually a reaction to something. Investigators need to find out what that “something” was.
• ECM data, dash cams and cell phone records can clarify the driver’s actions in the moments before the crash.
• Maintenance and inspection records may reveal mechanical factors that contributed to the rollover.
• Early reports rarely capture the full picture. Independent investigation is essential.