Davidson County, TN — March 13, 2025, Michael Capps was killed in a truck accident at about 8:30 a.m. on Whites Creek Pike/U.S. Route 431.

Authorities said a semi-truck crashed head-on with a Kia Forte near Jackman Road, knocking the smaller vehicle into a Nissan Sentra.

Kia driver Michael Capps, 65, died in the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

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

Commentary

Head-on collisions involving semi-trucks and passenger vehicles raise serious concerns about how and why both vehicles ended up in each other’s path. In this case, reports indicate that a semi-truck and a Kia Forte collided head-on on Whites Creek Pike, pushing the smaller vehicle into another car. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to driver error, road conditions or another contributing factor.

One of the most important questions investigators should answer is which vehicle crossed the center line and why. Reviewing black box data, dashcam footage and witness statements will be critical in determining how the crash unfolded.

Another key factor is whether road design played a role. Whites Creek Pike is a two-lane road, meaning there is little room for error. Were there sharp curves, limited visibility or other conditions that may have prevented either driver from seeing the oncoming vehicle in time? If road design contributed to the crash, that should be closely examined.

Speed is also an important consideration. Large trucks take much longer to stop than passenger vehicles, and if the truck was traveling too fast for road conditions, that could have limited the driver’s ability to react. Investigators should review black box data from the truck to determine its speed and braking activity before impact.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on who hit whom without investigating why the vehicles ended up in a head-on collision — whether due to driver behavior, road conditions or mechanical failure — they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a full understanding of what went wrong.