Update (January 13, 2026): Authorities have identified the man killed in this accident as Baltimore resident Lazaro Miranda, 47. His passengers were Juan Cormachi, 22, and Fausto Flores, 35. The injured truck driver was Abdul Abubakar, 42, of Parkville.

Elkridge, MD — January 12, 2026, one person was killed and three other people were injured in a truck accident at about 5:30 a.m. on Interstate 95.

Authorities said a southbound garbage truck crashed into the back end of a parked semi-truck near State Route 100.

The garbage truck driver, whose name has not been made public yet, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. Two passengers were flown to a nearby trauma center.

The semi-truck driver was flown to a nearby hospital with unspecified injuries, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a dump truck slammed into the back of a parked semi on the shoulder of I-95, their first reaction is often to assume the dump truck driver simply wasn't paying attention. That’s a possibility, but in my experience, what seems simple at first often turns out to be far more complicated once all the evidence is in.

The key question here is why the dump truck veered off its lane and into a parked truck. Was the driver fatigued? Distracted? Did he have a medical emergency? Or was there some kind of mechanical failure? We don’t yet know, and that makes it premature to draw any conclusions about what happened, or who might be responsible.

It’s also unclear whether the semi-truck was parked legally or illegally. Depending on that answer, very different legal issues could come into play. If the truck was parked in a designated emergency area with its lights or reflectors properly displayed, that’s one thing. If it was stopped in an active lane or in a poorly lit spot on the shoulder for no valid reason, that’s something else entirely.

I’ve handled cases where parked 18-wheelers caused serious injuries because they were stopped in dangerous places without proper warning or lighting. In one case, an exhausted driver pulled over just a few feet off a fast-moving highway and failed to turn on any hazard lights. A passing vehicle didn’t see the trailer in time and struck it. The authorities initially blamed the passing motorist, but the evidence told a different story.

That’s why a thorough investigation is critical. Key pieces of evidence in a crash like this often include:

• Engine control module (ECM) data from both trucks, which shows speed, braking and throttle use leading up to the crash.
• Dash cam footage if either vehicle had a camera system installed.
• Cell phone records to determine whether the dump truck driver was distracted at the time.
• Scene evidence, including skid marks, lighting conditions and signage, to reconstruct what happened.

Beyond the physical evidence, questions about hiring and training practices also matter. Was the dump truck driver screened properly before being put behind the wheel? Had he been working excessive hours? Was his equipment being maintained to proper standards?

Without answers to these questions, the public’s understanding of the crash is incomplete, and so is any judgment about fault. A responsible investigation should follow the evidence wherever it leads, even if that means holding more than one party accountable.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear why the dump truck struck the parked semi-truck; possible explanations include distraction, fatigue, medical emergency or equipment failure.
• Legal responsibility may hinge on whether the semi-truck was parked legally and visibly.
• Black box data, dash cams and phone records can shed light on both drivers' actions in the moments before the crash.
• Hiring, training and maintenance practices could also play a role in determining accountability.
• A full investigation is necessary before assigning blame or understanding how this crash could have been prevented.