Pickaway County, OH — March 11, 2025, Nathaniel Johnston was killed and another person was injured in a truck accident at about 2:35 p.m. on State Route 104.

Authorities said a 2020 Ford Mustang and a semi-truck collided head-on north of Van Meter Road. The crash resulted in an explosion.

Mustang driver Nathaniel Johnston, 20, of Circleville died in the crash near South Bloomfield, according to authorities.

The truck driver, a Georgia man whose name has not been made public, was hospitalized with unspecified injuries, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Jackson Township crash at this time. The accident remains under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Head-on collisions involving semi-trucks and passenger vehicles raise serious concerns about how and why both vehicles ended up in each other’s path. In this case, reports indicate that a Ford Mustang and a semi-truck collided on State Route 104, causing an explosion. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to driver error, road conditions or another contributing factor.

One of the first questions investigators need to answer is which vehicle crossed the center line and why. Reviewing black box data, dashcam footage and any available witness statements will be critical in understanding the sequence of events.

Another key factor is the road itself. Many rural highways, like State Route 104, have only one lane in each direction, leaving little room for error. Were there curves, hills or limited visibility that may have prevented the drivers from seeing each other in time? If road design played a role, that should be examined closely.

The fact that the crash resulted in an explosion raises additional concerns. Was the truck carrying hazardous or flammable cargo? Did a fuel tank rupture on impact? Investigators should determine whether the fire was an unavoidable consequence of the crash or if a vehicle defect or improperly secured cargo contributed to the severity of the outcome.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on who hit whom without investigating why the vehicles ended up in a head-on collision they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a complete understanding of what went wrong.