Update (November 7, 2025): Authorities have identified the bicyclist killed in this accident as 61-year-old Hannibal resident Jeffrey Nichols.

Marion County, MO — November 5, 2025, a pedestrian was killed in a truck accident at about 4:50 a.m. on U.S. Route 61 north of Hannibal.

Authorities said a 2023 Western Star semi-truck was heading north when it moved to the right to avoid a bicycle in the road and hit a pedestrian.

The pedestrian, a 61-year-old Hannibal man, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. His name has not been made public yet.

The truck driver was not hurt, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Marion County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read that a pedestrian was killed by a semi-truck that swerved to avoid a bicycle, they’re naturally left wondering: What exactly happened out there? Why was someone on foot in the roadway before sunrise? Why did the truck driver only react to the bicycle and not the person? And how can investigators know what happened in those final seconds?

These aren’t just philosophical questions. They’re the difference between speculation and evidence-based accountability.

Right now, we don’t know whether the pedestrian was standing, walking or already lying in the road. We don’t know whether the truck was moving at highway speed or had already started braking. And we don’t know how far ahead the bicycle was when the driver noticed it. These details matter, and they shape the answers to two essential questions: Did the truck driver respond reasonably to the situation in front of him? And should he have seen and avoided the pedestrian as well?

Depending on how much technology was installed in the truck, some of those questions can be answered. Many modern semis are equipped with forward-facing cameras and even in-cab video recorders. If this truck had those, then investigators might be able to reconstruct the moments leading up to the crash with a good deal of precision. Likewise, the truck’s engine control module would likely tell us how fast it was going, whether the brakes were applied and how hard the driver turned the wheel.

But even high-tech evidence can only tell part of the story. To fully understand how this happened, we’d also need to look at the truck driver’s actions and history. Was he fatigued, distracted or impaired in any way? Cell phone records, dispatch logs and driver rest schedules are all part of a serious investigation. And the trucking company’s hiring and training practices may be just as important. I’ve handled cases where a driver with a spotty employment record was rushed into service without proper vetting, only for something like this to happen later on.

At this stage, too many critical facts remain unknown. But getting to the truth of what happened on U.S. Route 61 won’t just require law enforcement’s initial report. It’s going to take a thorough, independent look at every piece of evidence: physical, digital and human. That’s how we move beyond guesswork and figure out who, if anyone, failed to do their job.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear whether the pedestrian was visible or avoidable when the truck swerved.
• The presence of both a bicycle and a pedestrian in the roadway raises questions about what exactly the driver saw, and when.
• Video footage, ECM data and cell phone records may help clarify the driver’s response.
• A proper investigation should include the driver’s history, training and condition at the time.
• Getting the full story means going beyond the crash scene to understand how every decision contributed to the outcome.