Memphis, TN — July 16, 2025, one person was killed and another was injured in a motorcycle versus truck accident about about 12:15 p.m. along Shelby Drive.
According to authorities, the accident took place in the vicinity of the Shelby Drive and Malone Road intersection.
Details surrounding the accident remain scarce. Preliminary reports state that, for as yet unknown reasons, a collision took place between a motorcycle and a delivery truck. One person reportedly sustained fatal injuries and was declared deceased at the scene. Another victim sustained injuries of unknown severity, according to reports. Additional information pertaining to this incident—including the identities of the victims—is not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Crashes involving motorcycles and delivery trucks often raise immediate questions about visibility and right of way. That’s because these types of collisions tend to occur when one driver simply didn’t see the other—or saw them too late to react safely. The key issue here is what each driver was doing in the moments leading up to the collision.
Right now, there’s no public information about which direction the motorcycle or delivery truck was traveling, or who may have had the right of way. But in my experience, these collisions often happen when a larger vehicle turns across the path of a motorcycle, either failing to yield or misjudging the rider’s speed. Delivery trucks—especially in urban areas like Memphis—make frequent turns, pull in and out of traffic, and may even stop unexpectedly. Each of those movements carries risk if not executed with full awareness of surrounding traffic.
On the flip side, investigators also need to know the motorcycle’s speed, position in the lane, and visibility. Was it riding in a blind spot? Was it accelerating through the intersection? These aren’t questions that can be answered through assumptions—they require evidence like eyewitness accounts, surveillance video, or dash cam footage.
One major concern in delivery truck cases is whether the driver was rushing to complete a route. Many companies impose strict schedules that can encourage risky driving. If that’s part of the equation here, then the company’s policies and oversight practices will need to be examined alongside the driver’s individual decisions.
No matter who was at fault, the legal analysis starts with facts—vehicle positions, speed, line of sight, and traffic patterns at that intersection. Without those, all anyone can do is speculate. But with the right evidence, a clear picture will emerge.
Key Takeaways:
- The specific movements of the motorcycle and delivery truck are unknown, but will be central to determining fault.
- These collisions often stem from visibility issues or improper turning by a larger vehicle.
- Delivery truck drivers may be under time pressure, which can influence driving behavior and decision-making.
- Investigators will need physical evidence, video footage, and witness accounts to reconstruct what happened.
- Company practices—such as scheduling demands and driver oversight—may play a role depending on the truck driver’s actions.
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