Montgomery County, AL — November 7, 2025, Nathan Griggs was killed and another person was injured in a truck accident at about 10 a.m. on U.S. Route 31/Mobile Highway.
Authorities said a 2015 Ford F-250 collided with a 2022 International semi-truck at the intersection with Hyundai Boulevard, causing both vehicles to catch fire.
Truck driver Nathan C. Griggs, 58, of Montgomery died at the scene of the crash north of Hope Hull, according to authorities.
The pickup driver, a 37-year-old Prattville man, was hospitalized with unspecified injuries, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Montgomery County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear about a fiery crash involving a pickup and an 18-wheeler, their first reaction is usually to wonder what went wrong and who’s responsible. In this case, we know the collision happened in broad daylight at a major intersection and resulted in both vehicles catching fire, facts that point to a high-speed, high-impact collision. But beyond that, the available information leaves far more questions than answers.
What we don’t yet know is critical. Was the semi-truck turning onto Hyundai Boulevard or continuing straight down U.S. 31? Was the pickup traveling at highway speed or slowing for a turn? Did either driver run a red light or fail to yield the right of way? These aren’t minor details. They go to the heart of understanding what caused the collision in the first place.
Given that the truck driver lost his life, there’s a natural tendency for the focus to shift toward the surviving pickup driver. But we can’t assume fault based on who lived and who didn’t. Determining responsibility will require hard evidence: dash cam footage, traffic signal data, engine control module (ECM) logs and cell phone records. Depending on the direction each vehicle was traveling, it’s possible this was a left-turn conflict, a red-light violation or even a case of brake failure. Right now, the reporting doesn’t say.
In crashes like this, investigators need to look beyond the wreckage. Was either driver distracted? Was the semi properly maintained? Did the company that owned the truck have policies in place for route planning, driver rest and vehicle inspections? I’ve seen cases where poorly enforced procedures set the stage for fatal outcomes. Without a thorough independent investigation, none of these factors will come to light.
A case I worked on years ago involved a truck that collided with another vehicle in a similar intersection layout. Everyone assumed the driver made a simple mistake. But after we subpoenaed phone records, ECM data and conducted depositions, it turned out the driver had been on the job for more than 14 hours, well past the legal limit. The company had turned a blind eye to the logs because the driver always delivered on time. That kind of negligence doesn’t show up in a police press release, but it makes all the difference when determining who’s really at fault.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s unclear who had the right of way or whether either driver made a critical error.
- ECM data, dash cams and signal timing logs could provide answers about speed, braking and decision-making.
- Both driver behavior and trucking company policies should be investigated for potential underlying issues.
- Fire damage can destroy physical evidence, making digital records even more essential.
- Accountability depends on gathering the full picture, not assumptions based on limited facts.
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