Cowley County, KS — December 22, 2025, Nicole Brown was killed and Jason Salem was injured in a truck accident at about 9:10 a.m. on North Summit Street.

Authorities said a northbound 2010 Toyota Camry and a semi-truck collided at the intersection with Walnut Valley Green Way/U.S. Highway 77 north of Arkansas City.

Toyota driver Nicole Brown, 41, and passenger Jason Salem, 46, were hospitalized with unspecified injuries after the crash, according to authorities. Nicole Brown died January 8 at a Wichita hospital.

The truck driver and his passenger were not injured, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Cowley County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a deadly crash between a car and a semi-truck, their first reaction is often to assume the trucker must have done something wrong. That’s possible, but without more details, it’s impossible to say for sure. What matters most now is getting to the bottom of what happened at that intersection.

From the limited information available, we know that a Toyota and an 18-wheeler collided at the intersection of North Summit Street and Walnut Valley Green Way. The driver of the car passed away weeks later, and the passenger also was hurt. The truck driver and his passenger weren’t injured. But that alone doesn’t answer the biggest questions: Who had the right of way? Was either vehicle trying to turn? Did someone run a red light or stop sign?

It’s not clear whether the semi-truck was pulling onto the highway, turning off of it or continuing straight through the intersection. Each of those scenarios brings up different legal and factual questions. For instance, if the truck was attempting a left turn, timing and visibility become central issues. If it was continuing straight and the car crossed its path, then the focus shifts to signals and possible distraction. Right now, we don’t know.

That’s why any serious investigation should start with the truck itself. Many commercial vehicles these days carry in-cab cameras, dash cams and engine control modules (ECMs) that log things like speed, braking and throttle use. Cell phone records can also shed light on whether the driver was distracted. In short, the technology exists to reconstruct what happened second by second, if someone takes the time to gather that evidence.

Beyond that, the trucking company’s hiring and training practices may come into play. Was this a driver with a clean record and proper training? Did the company verify his driving history before putting him behind the wheel of a massive commercial vehicle? I’ve handled cases where a crash wasn’t just about what happened on the road, but how unfit a driver was to be there in the first place. Sometimes the deeper fault lies with the company that hired the driver, not just the person behind the wheel.

What we’re left with right now is a gap. A serious crash happened, someone lost their life and we don’t yet have a clear picture of how or why. The only way to get that picture is by digging into the facts and following the evidence wherever it leads.

Key Takeaways:

• It's unclear from public reports how the crash happened or who had the right of way.
• Key evidence may include dash cam footage, ECM data and phone records from the truck.
• Investigators should evaluate the truck driver's background and the company’s hiring practices.
• Different scenarios (e.g., turning vs. going straight) raise different legal questions.
• A full investigation is necessary before determining who’s responsible.