Livermore, CA — June 17, 2025, one person was killed in a motorcycle versus truck accident at approximately 2:45 a.m. along Interstate Highway 580.

According to authorities, the accident took place in the eastbound lanes of I.H. 580 in the vicinity of the exit for Isabel Avenue.

Details surrounding the accident remain scarce. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a collision took place involving a motorcycle and at least one 18-wheeler. Reports state that one person lost their life as a result of the wreck. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a motorcyclist is killed in a collision with an 18-wheeler, especially in the middle of the night, the public often jumps to conclusions about who was at fault. But the truth is, without clear facts, we don’t know whether this was a case of driver inattention, lane violation, mechanical failure, or something else entirely. What we do know is that crashes like this demand a careful, evidence-driven investigation—because motorcycles and 18-wheelers don't just collide by chance.

Evidence Is the Only Path to Answers

There’s no room for guesswork in a case like this. Key questions need to be answered before anyone can responsibly assess liability:

• Which lane was the motorcycle in, and where was the truck? Nighttime lighting, lane positioning, and blind spots can all influence visibility and reaction time.
• Did either vehicle change lanes or swerve suddenly? That would show up in dash cam footage, ECM data, or nearby traffic cameras.
• Was the motorcyclist visible? Reflective gear, headlight operation, and helmet use are all part of the visibility equation.

Just as importantly, we need to understand what the truck driver was doing in the moments before the crash. Were they alert? Using a phone? Following too closely? If the truck was equipped with an in-cab camera or monitoring system, that footage could answer all of these questions. And if not, investigators will need to rely on cell phone records, logbooks, and black box data to reconstruct the driver's behavior.

Nighttime Truck-Motorcycle Collisions Require Precision

Motorcycles are harder to see than passenger vehicles—that’s just physics. But professional truck drivers are trained to anticipate these challenges. If a truck changed lanes or made a sudden maneuver without checking its mirrors and surroundings, that can turn a manageable risk into a fatal outcome.

I’ve handled cases where truckers claimed they “never saw” a motorcycle they collided with. In some of those cases, that turned out to be true—because they weren’t looking. Whether it was fatigue, distraction, or simply poor situational awareness, their failure to perceive what was plainly there ended in someone’s death.

That’s why these investigations have to be thorough. They have to go beyond the point of impact and reconstruct everything that led up to it—positioning, speed, visibility, and driver conduct.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s still unknown how the motorcycle and truck came into contact, and which party initiated the collision.
• Evidence like dash cam footage, ECM data, and phone records will be key to understanding the truck driver’s behavior.
• Visibility is always a factor in nighttime crashes, but it does not excuse inattention or unsafe maneuvers by truck drivers.
• Reconstructing lane positions, movement, and timing is essential to determine fault.
• A complete investigation must evaluate both vehicle operations and the decisions made by everyone involved.