Charlotte, NC — December 31, 2025, Michael Presnell was killed and another person was injured in a dump truck accident at about 11:20 a.m. in the 7700 block of Wilkinson Road.

Authorities said a Peterbilt dump truck and a Jeep Grand Cherokee collided near Interstate 485.

Jeep driver Michael Ellis Presnell, 44, and a minor suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, according to authorities. Michael Ellis Presnell died on January 2.

No other injuries were reported.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a crash like this one, they understandably want to know: How does something like that even happen? The basic reports mention a collision, serious injuries and a fatality, but offer no details about what led to the crash. And until those facts come to light, there’s no way to fairly or fully understand who may be responsible.

Right now, we don’t know whether the dump truck hit the Jeep, whether the Jeep ran into the dump truck or whether another factor caused them both to collide. Depending on whether the truck was moving or stopped, turning or changing lanes, different questions arise. Was the dump truck merging onto the highway? Was it turning across traffic? Or did something happen that caused either driver to lose control?

Without answers, we’re left with serious unanswered questions, and in my experience handling commercial vehicle crashes, that’s where most investigations go wrong. Too often, people assume that the police report tells the whole story. But the reality is that a proper investigation digs much deeper.

For instance, dump trucks, like other commercial vehicles, often have an engine control module, or ECM, that stores critical data about speed, braking and throttle use leading up to a crash. That data can show whether the driver tried to avoid the collision or didn’t react at all. Was the driver distracted? Cell phone records could help answer that. Some trucks also have in-cab cameras that record both the road and the driver’s actions, which can be key in figuring out what happened in those final moments.

Then there’s the driver’s history. Was this someone with a clean safety record, or had there been prior issues? What about the company that operated the truck; did they vet the driver properly? I’ve handled cases where the driver never should’ve been behind the wheel in the first place, and when we dug into the hiring paperwork, it was clear the company looked the other way.

Even without knowing who caused the crash, it’s fair to say that someone likely made a mistake that cost a man his life and left a young person fighting for theirs. The challenge is figuring out whose mistake it was, and that only happens when someone takes the time to gather all the available evidence.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear what caused the collision between the dump truck and the Jeep, making a full investigation essential.
• Critical evidence like black box data, cell phone records and dashcam footage may reveal whether the crash was avoidable.
• A proper investigation should also examine the dump truck driver’s background and the company’s hiring practices.
• Determining fault requires more than just a police report. It takes independent scrutiny of all available facts.
• Getting to the truth is the only way to ensure the right people are held accountable.