Prince George's County, MD — July 8, 2025, two people were injured in a dump truck accident at about 11:30 a.m. on St. Barnabas Road in Marlow Heights.

Authorities said a dump truck and a sedan collided near Pohanka Place, blocking traffic in both directions.

The driver of the sedan, whose name has not been made public, was hospitalized with critical injuries, according to authorities. A child in the car suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The dump truck driver was not hurt, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a dump truck colliding with a sedan, sending an adult to the hospital with critical injuries and injuring a child, the first thing they want to know is: How could this have happened? The reports don’t say. And without knowing who hit whom, or how, it’s impossible to say who’s at fault. But that doesn’t mean we can’t talk about the kind of questions that need answers.

For one, what was the dump truck doing in the moments before impact? Was it speeding? Changing lanes? Trying to make a left turn across traffic? We don’t yet know whether the sedan struck the truck or if the truck entered the sedan’s path. Depending on that, the legal implications could be very different.

This is why a proper investigation has to start with the facts, not assumptions. In truck crash cases I’ve handled, a big part of the truth comes from the technology that’s already onboard. Was the truck’s engine control module (ECM) able to show whether the driver braked? Swerved? Sped up? Was the driver using a phone at the time? In-cab cameras, if present, can also offer key insight into what the driver saw, or should have seen.

Another issue is whether the trucker’s employer followed proper hiring and training procedures. I’ve worked on cases where companies put drivers on the road with barely any testing or background checks. When a driver turns out to be unqualified or careless, that’s not just a driver problem; it’s a company problem.

Finally, it’s worth noting that investigators on the scene don’t always dig into these deeper issues. That’s not a criticism; it’s just a reality of how crash reports are written. Which means that unless someone steps in to collect the black box data, subpoena phone records and evaluate company safety practices, the most important questions may never get answered.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear how the dump truck and sedan collided or who was at fault.
• Key evidence — like ECM data, dash cams and phone records — can reveal what actually happened.
• Investigating the trucking company’s hiring and training practices may also be necessary.
• Authorities haven’t released many details, so it’s too early to assign blame.
• A thorough, independent investigation is often the only way to uncover the full truth.