Oklahoma City, OK — February 3, 2025, Cortney Croney was killed in a truck accident at about 12:50 a.m. on northbound Interstate 44.

Authorities said a 2025 Toyota Corolla crashed into a Freightliner semi-truck while traveling north near Northwest 36th Street.

Toyota driver Cortney Croney, 27, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. The truck driver was not injured.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary

When a passenger vehicle collides with a semi-truck, the key question is how did the two vehicles come into contact? People may assume the smaller vehicle’s driver was at fault, but in my experience, these crashes often involve visibility issues, vehicle positioning and road conditions.

One major factor to consider is where and how the crash occurred. Was the Toyota merging, changing lanes or already in the same lane as the truck? Did the impact happen from behind, the side or at an angle? These details matter because they can indicate whether the truck driver’s actions — such as an unexpected lane change or sudden braking — contributed to the collision.

Another issue is visibility and lighting. This crash happened just before 1 a.m., a time when poor lighting, glare from headlights or fatigue could have affected driver awareness. Was the truck properly marked and visible? Did road lighting provide enough illumination? Investigators should examine whether these factors made it harder to avoid a collision.

It’s also worth considering whether road conditions played a role. Late at night, roads can be slick from moisture, and high-speed highways like I-44 don’t always allow much room for error. Investigators should look into whether the pavement conditions or debris contributed to the crash.

At this stage, we don’t have enough information to say exactly why this happened. But what is clear is that this isn’t just a case of one vehicle hitting another. A proper investigation should examine truck positioning, road conditions and visibility. If those factors aren’t considered, critical details that explain what led to this crash could be missed.