Good Thunder, MN — April 20, 2025, One person was killed following a car accident that occurred at around 12:30 A.M. on 552nd Ave.

An investigation is underway into a car accident that left one person dead during the early morning hours of April 20th. According to official reports, a pickup truck operated by Jacob Farrell a was traveling on 552nd Avenue in the northbound lanes when for unknown reasons the vehicle lost control and left the roadway where it rolled several times.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that Farrell had sustained serious injuries and he was pronounced deceased. At this time there has been no further information released about the accident, including what caused the vehicle to lose control, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released by authorities in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a single-vehicle rollover results in the death of the driver, especially during the early morning hours with little context provided, it’s critical not to rely on assumptions. It’s easy to chalk up a crash like this to driver error, particularly when no other vehicles are involved. But that doesn’t mean a complete investigation should stop at the obvious. In fact, the lack of clear details only makes it more important to ask the right questions. There are three in particular that must be addressed in order to uncover what really happened.

The first is whether the authorities thoroughly investigated the crash. Rollover crashes can be complex, and understanding why a vehicle left the roadway requires careful reconstruction of the scene. That means looking at the roadway itself—was there debris, an uneven surface, or an issue with visibility? Did the driver attempt to brake or steer before the vehicle left the road? These questions can’t be answered without collecting physical evidence such as tire marks, vehicle positioning, and environmental conditions at the time of the crash. If those details weren’t captured promptly, critical information could already be lost.

Second, has anyone considered whether a vehicle defect may have played a role? Rollovers raise specific concerns about a vehicle’s handling, suspension, and center of gravity. In pickup trucks especially, stability issues can lead to loss of control under the right conditions. Mechanical failures—such as a tire blowout, steering issue, or brake malfunction—should also be investigated. But these kinds of issues are often overlooked unless someone takes the initiative to preserve the vehicle and subject it to a forensic examination. If that doesn’t happen quickly, opportunities to detect a defect may disappear.

Finally, has all the electronic data been collected from the vehicle? Modern pickups are typically equipped with electronic control modules (ECMs) that store data from just before a crash occurs. That includes vehicle speed, throttle position, brake input, and steering angle—data that can be crucial in determining whether the driver attempted to respond to a problem or if something went wrong mechanically. This information can be retrieved even in severe crashes, provided steps are taken quickly to preserve the vehicle and extract the data.

When someone loses their life in a crash, especially when the cause is unclear, the investigation must be more than procedural—it has to be purposeful. These three questions form the foundation of any serious crash investigation, and they ensure that no possibility is left unexplored. That’s how we move toward real answers, not just for the sake of accountability, but to help prevent similar outcomes in the future.