Clay Township, MO — June 17, 2024, Miranda Cooper and Autumn Gier were injured following a truck accident at around 12:40 p.m. on Route 240.

According to initial details from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash happened in the area of Route 240 and Route P, south of Slater.

Investigators said that 21-year-old Miranda Cooper was in a pickup going along the highway. In oncoming lanes, authorities say 18-year-old Autumn Gier was in a vehicle that slowed down due to traffic. That's when, according to officials, a semi-truck behind Gier hit the back of Gier's vehicle, then jackknifed and blocked oncoming lanes. As a result, Cooper's vehicle then crashed into the truck.

As a result of the crash, Cooper had to be flown from the scene due to her injuries. Gier reportedly had less severe injuries. No other injuries were reported. While the exact cause of the crash is unclear, reports suggest the truck may have been attempting to overtake Gier's vehicle.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Typically, crashes like this involve drivers who aren't paying attention, are going too fast, or are following too closely. But even attempting to pass traffic in a manner like this raises some red flags which could highlight an aspect of truck wrecks I discuss a lot on this blog: the environment the truck driver works in.

Let me explain what I mean by that. I've litigated hundreds of commercial vehicle accidents, and this sort of thing is often the result of not only a driver's mistakes but the mistakes of their employers. For example, one significant factor is the pressure trucking companies place on their drivers to meet tight delivery schedules. When companies prioritize speed and efficiency over safety, drivers may feel compelled to take risks, such as overtaking in heavy traffic or following too closely, to avoid penalties or meet unrealistic deadlines. Training and supervision can also be a significant factor. Was the driver adequately trained to handle a commercial vehicle? Were they inexperienced, or did they have a history of making reckless decisions that their employer overlooked or failed to catch?

These are just a few possibilities I've seen lead to wrecks like this which, frankly, authorities don't always look into. Sometimes, they don't have the experience or equipment to investigate beyond the crash scene. Other times, they just feel they have other priorities to consider, and they move on without getting the whole story. In my experience, people don't just want someone to blame. They want to see accountability for the wrongs done to them. Understanding the entire context of what led to the accident is often the best way to see that happens. Were those steps taken here?