Arlington Heights, IL — July 21, 2025, a motorcyclist was killed in a dump truck accident at about 1:30 a.m. on State Route 53.

Authorities said a dump truck and a motorcycle collided near Rand Road/U.S. Route 12.

The motorcyclist, whose name has not been made public yet, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a motorcyclist was killed in a crash involving a dump truck at 1:30 in the morning, they likely want to know: How did this happen? What caused the two vehicles to collide in the first place? And why was a dump truck out on the road at that hour?

From what’s been reported so far, there’s no public explanation of how the crash unfolded, only that the collision happened near Rand Road in Arlington Heights. That leaves a lot of critical questions unanswered. For example: Was the dump truck moving at the time of the crash or stopped? Was the motorcyclist trying to pass the truck, or did the truck turn across the motorcyclist’s path? Depending on the answers, very different legal responsibilities may apply.

In situations like this, the key to understanding what really happened lies in the evidence. Most dump trucks are equipped with engine control modules (ECMs), sometimes called black boxes, which can tell us how fast the vehicle was going, whether it was braking and whether there was any sudden change in steering. In-cab cameras, if installed, can show us what the driver was doing just before the collision. Cell phone records can also help determine whether the driver was distracted.

It’s also worth asking why the dump truck was operating at 1:30 a.m. Was it part of a road crew doing overnight work? If so, were appropriate safety precautions taken to alert other road users? Or was the truck being operated outside of regulated hours? These aren’t just side issues; they go directly to whether the truck should have been on the road in the first place, and whether its operator was following the rules.

Unfortunately, public updates like this often omit those kinds of details, leaving families and the public to guess at the cause. That’s why a full investigation is essential, one that looks at more than just the point of impact. What we’re trying to uncover is whether this death could have been prevented, and if so, by whom.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear how the dump truck and motorcycle came to collide or who had the right of way.
• Evidence like black box data, dash cam footage and cell phone records will be critical to reconstructing the crash.
• Questions remain about why the dump truck was operating at 1:30 a.m. and whether safety protocols were in place.
• Determining responsibility requires a deeper look at the truck driver’s actions and the company’s operating policies.
• A thorough investigation is necessary to ensure that any responsible parties are held accountable.