Upshur County, WV — April 14, 2025, One person was killed following a car accident that occurred at around 1:23 P.M. on Route 33.

An investigation is underway into a car accident that left one person dead during the afternoon hours of April 14th. According to official reports, a commercially owned Dodge pickup operated by Daniel Carson was traveling on Route 33 in the westbound lanes when for unknown reasons the vehicle lost control and crossed the median into the eastbound lanes where it struck a guardrail, causing the pickup to roll down an embankment before resting in a stream.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that the driver had sustained fatal injuries and he was pronounced deceased. At this time there has been no further information released about the accident, including what caused the vehicle to lose control, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a commercial vehicle crosses a median, strikes a guardrail, and rolls down an embankment—ultimately resulting in a fatality—it’s critical to remember that crashes like this don’t just happen without a cause. While early reports often describe such incidents in broad terms, a truly complete understanding depends on asking three essential questions: Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? And has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?

Investigations into commercial vehicle crashes should begin with a detailed review of the crash scene and the vehicle’s behavior leading up to the loss of control. Authorities should have documented roadway conditions, tire marks, the state of the median and guardrail, and whether the embankment's slope contributed to the severity of the crash. In commercial cases, there’s also the added complexity of verifying the vehicle’s maintenance records, driver logs, and potential hours-of-service compliance. These factors may all play a role in what caused the vehicle to drift across the median. However, the depth and quality of that investigation can vary significantly depending on the agency involved and whether commercial vehicle protocols are followed.

Just as important is the question of whether a vehicle defect might have played a role—something that’s often overlooked, particularly when the crash involves only one vehicle. With commercial trucks, the mechanical systems are under greater strain and more prone to issues like brake failure, steering malfunctions, or tire blowouts. Any of these failures could easily explain why the vehicle suddenly left its lane and crossed into oncoming traffic. Unfortunately, defect investigations require a preserved vehicle and expert analysis—both of which may be missed if the vehicle is quickly released or disposed of before a proper examination is done. If the cause remains attributed only to “unknown reasons,” we risk missing a critical piece of the story.

Equally vital is the collection and preservation of electronic data. Most commercial vehicles are equipped with electronic control modules (ECMs) that record speed, braking, throttle use, and more. This data could offer a minute-by-minute account of the vehicle’s performance leading up to the crash. If the vehicle was equipped with a fleet telematics system, even more comprehensive data may be available, including GPS coordinates, maintenance alerts, and driver behavior tracking. But this information is time-sensitive—if the data isn’t pulled quickly, it can be lost or overwritten. Additionally, dash cameras and surrounding surveillance footage could provide visual confirmation of the crash sequence. All of these electronic sources need to be secured early in the investigation to ensure no critical information is lost.

Crashes involving commercial vehicles demand an elevated level of scrutiny—not just because of the size and power of the vehicles involved, but because the underlying causes can often be traced back to mechanical failures or operational lapses. That’s why it’s essential to ask whether the crash was thoroughly investigated, whether a defect in the vehicle was considered, and whether the ECM and other electronic records were recovered and reviewed. Until those questions are answered, the cause of the crash remains unclear, and the opportunity to learn from it remains unrealized.