Wabash County, WA — February 24, 2025, Jason Miller was injured following a garbage truck accident that occurred at around 1:40 P.M. on East 1200 Road.

An investigation is underway into a car accident that left one person injured during the afternoon hours of February 24th. According to official reports, a garbage truck operated by 40-year-old Jason Miller was travelling on East 1200 Road in the northbound lanes when for unknown reasons the truck lost control and left the roadway where it rolled down an embankment.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that Miller had sustained serious injuries and transported him to the hospital for treatment. At this time there has been no further information released about the accident, including the status of Miller's injuries, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released in the future.

Commentary

When I read about a crash like this, my immediate concern is whether the driver and his family will get the answers they need. It’s easy to assume that a single-vehicle accident is simply a matter of driver error, but experience has shown me that crashes involving heavy trucks are often more complicated than they seem at first glance. To truly understand what happened, three critical questions must be addressed.

First, did authorities conduct a thorough investigation? Garbage trucks are large, heavy vehicles that require specialized handling, and when one leaves the roadway and rolls down an embankment, investigators should take extra care in documenting the scene. Did they analyze skid marks, check for mechanical issues, or consider whether road conditions played a role? Given the complexity of commercial truck accidents, a detailed accident reconstruction may be necessary to uncover contributing factors that aren’t immediately obvious.

Second, has anyone examined whether a vehicle defect or mechanical failure played a role? Large trucks rely on properly functioning brakes, suspension, and steering systems to maintain control. A failure in any of these areas could cause the truck to veer off course. Additionally, garbage trucks endure significant wear and tear, meaning improper maintenance could also be a factor. Unfortunately, mechanical failures are often overlooked unless someone pushes for a forensic inspection of the vehicle. Preserving the truck for examination is crucial in determining whether a defect contributed to the crash.

Third, has all available electronic data related to the crash been collected? Most commercial trucks are equipped with electronic control modules (ECMs) that store key information about speed, braking, and engine performance leading up to a crash. Additionally, many garbage trucks have onboard cameras or GPS tracking that could provide insight into what happened. If authorities don’t secure this data quickly, it could be lost or overwritten, making it much harder to determine the true cause of the crash.

At the end of the day, crashes like this don’t just affect the driver—they impact families, coworkers, and entire communities. Answering these three key questions is the best way to ensure that all possibilities are explored, whether the cause was mechanical failure, road conditions, or something else entirely. Those affected deserve a full and fair investigation so they can move forward with clarity.