Lewis County, WV — June 10, 2025, Doug Skaff was killed in a truck accident at about 4 p.m. on southbound Interstate 10 near Weston.

Authorities said a vehicle crashed into the back of a semi-truck near mile marker 101.

The driver of the unidentified vehicle, 48-year-old Doug Skaff, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

The truck driver was not injured, even though both vehicles suffered significant damage in the crash, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a crash where someone slams into the back of an 18-wheeler, it’s easy to assume the smaller vehicle must have been at fault. But rear-end collisions with commercial trucks are not always as straightforward as they seem. Before anyone can say what really happened here, some key questions need answering; questions that aren't addressed in the initial reports.

First and foremost: Was the truck moving, slowing or stopped at the time of the crash? That detail changes everything. If the truck was stopped in an active travel lane without proper warning, that would raise serious concerns about the truck driver's conduct. If it was moving slowly due to a mechanical issue or traffic congestion, then we’d want to know what steps were taken to warn other drivers. On the other hand, if the other vehicle simply approached too fast or didn’t react in time, then responsibility may lie elsewhere. But the current reporting doesn’t tell us any of that.

Getting to the bottom of this will require a close look at physical and digital evidence, starting with the truck’s engine control module (ECM), basically its black box. That data can show whether the truck was accelerating, decelerating or at a standstill, and help reconstruct how the crash unfolded.

In addition, most modern trucks are equipped with in-cab cameras or dash cams. Footage from those systems could show the truck driver's actions in the moments before the crash and whether any evasive maneuvers were attempted. The same goes for the driver of the other vehicle, assuming any nearby surveillance or traffic cameras captured that angle.

It’s also important to look at cell phone records, both to determine whether either driver was distracted and to help piece together their timelines. And if the trailer had reflective tape or lights, investigators will need to verify whether those safety features were working properly, especially if visibility was an issue at the time of the crash.

Crashes like this also raise questions about the trucking company’s safety policies and hiring practices. For instance, was the driver well-trained and screened before getting behind the wheel? I’ve handled cases where trucking companies put drivers on the road without verifying their experience or accident history. In one of those cases, it turned out the driver had already been fired from multiple jobs. The company’s failure to do due diligence ended up being a bigger factor in the crash than anything the driver did behind the wheel.

None of this is to say the truck driver or company is necessarily at fault here, but it does underscore why a thorough investigation is essential. Without looking at all the facts, we’re just guessing. And that doesn’t help anyone get to the truth.

Key Takeaways:

• We don’t yet know whether the truck was moving or stopped when the crash occurred, an essential detail for determining fault.
• Black box data, dash cam footage and cell phone records will be critical to reconstructing what happened.
• If the truck was stopped or slowed improperly, that could point to the truck driver’s liability.
• Investigators should also scrutinize the trucking company’s training and hiring procedures.
• Real answers only come from a complete evidence-based investigation, not assumptions.