Meeker County, MN — August 15, 2025, David Hofstradter was killed in a truck accident at about 3 p.m. on State Highway 55/Olson Memorial Highway.

Authorities said a semi-truck was headed east when it slowed to turn left into a driveway. It was hit from behind by another semi-truck just west of Eden Valley.

The driver of the second truck, 57-year-old Burtrum resident David Allen Hofstradter, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, while the other driver was unhurt, according to authorities.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When someone hears that a truck driver rear-ended another 18-wheeler, it’s natural to assume the blame is straightforward. But having spent decades investigating and litigating commercial truck crashes, I can say that rear-end collisions between semis often raise more questions than answers. The reality is, we can’t begin to understand what happened here without looking much deeper than the surface.

What stands out in this case is that the lead truck was reportedly slowing down to make a left-hand turn into a driveway when it was hit from behind. That opens the door to multiple potential causes. Was the second truck following too closely? Was the driver distracted or fatigued? Did the lead truck signal the turn in time? Was the slowdown abrupt or unexpected? None of that is clear from the current reports.

One reason I flag these kinds of questions is because modern commercial trucks carry a lot more than just cargo. They also carry evidence. Most have engine control modules (ECMs) that record speed, braking and throttle input. Some have in-cab cameras or collision-avoidance systems that can shed light on the moments leading up to a crash. And if cell phone use played any role, that can be confirmed through call and text records. Without that kind of evidence, any explanation for what caused this crash is just speculation.

Another piece of the puzzle is driver history. Was the trailing truck's driver, who unfortunately died in the crash, properly screened and trained? Did he have a record of prior safety issues? I’ve worked cases where a driver was hired despite having a string of red flags in their background, and the result was a crash that never should’ve happened. That doesn’t appear to be confirmed here, but it’s a question worth asking.

Also, we can't overlook the possibility of mechanical failure or improperly maintained equipment. If the rear truck’s brakes weren’t functioning correctly, even a fully alert and responsible driver might not have been able to stop in time. That’s another area where records — maintenance logs, inspection reports and ECM data — can provide answers.

Ultimately, the key here is that we don’t yet know why this crash happened. We only know how it ended. Until an independent investigation gathers and analyzes the full range of evidence, we’re left with a lot of unanswered questions.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear what caused the rear-end collision between the two 18-wheelers.
• Critical evidence may lie in ECM data, dash cams, cell phone records and driver histories.
• Depending on how the lead truck slowed and whether the turn was properly signaled, different parties could bear responsibility.
• Mechanical failure or inadequate driver vetting may also have played a role.
• A full investigation is needed to determine who, if anyone, should be held accountable.