Pompano Beach, FL — March 18, 2025, Dejuanye Winters was killed in a truck accident at about 3:50 p.m. in the 1900 block of North Powerline Road.

Authorities said a 2019 Yamaha motorcycle was headed south when a semi-truck turned left in front of it. The motorcyclist applied his brakes, but he was unable to avoid crashing into the back end of the truck.

Motorcyclist Dejaunye Winters, 30, died in the crash, according to authorities.

Authorities said the truck driver initially didn't realize his vehicle had been involved in an accident since he didn't see any visible damage, but he is cooperating with investigators after noticing paint chips that matched the motorcycle while unloading his trailer.

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

Commentary

Crashes involving motorcycles and turning commercial trucks often hinge on questions of visibility, right-of-way and whether the truck driver had enough awareness of surrounding traffic before making a maneuver. In this case, reports indicate that a semi-truck turned left in front of a southbound motorcycle, leading to a fatal collision. A full investigation should determine whether this was a case of the truck driver failing to yield, not seeing the motorcycle or a combination of both.

One of the most immediate concerns in a crash like this is whether the truck driver properly judged the gap in oncoming traffic before making the left turn. Motorcycles are smaller and harder to spot than other vehicles, and their speed is often underestimated by drivers in larger vehicles. That challenge doesn’t excuse failing to yield the right of way, but it does highlight how vulnerable motorcyclists are when other drivers don't take the extra moment to scan more carefully before turning.

The fact that the truck driver didn’t initially realize a collision had occurred raises additional questions. Commercial drivers are trained to be aware of their surroundings, particularly when making low-speed turns in populated areas. While it’s possible for a large truck not to feel a light impact, especially toward the rear of a trailer, the expectation is that drivers should be vigilant enough to notice when smaller vehicles are nearby. If paint transfer was the first clue that something went wrong, it suggests the driver may not have been fully aware of the vehicles around them at the time of the turn, something that should be closely examined through surveillance footage, witness accounts and the truck’s blind spot configuration.

Another key issue here is braking distance. The report notes that the motorcyclist attempted to stop but couldn't avoid the collision. That suggests the left turn happened too close to the approaching bike for a safe response. Investigators should look into whether the truck’s turn was legally executed and whether the driver had an adequate line of sight to make that judgment.

At this point, there isn’t enough public information to say definitively what caused this crash. But if authorities focus only on the impact without examining why the truck driver turned when he did, whether the motorcycle was visible and approaching at a reasonable speed and whether the truck’s mirrors and technology were sufficient to alert the driver to other road users, they risk missing critical details. A full investigation should take all of these factors into account to determine what went wrong.