Update (August 7, 2025): Authorities have identified the woman killed in this accident as Nybol Chol Dhul, 23, of Rosemont. She was driving a 2019 Kia Optima at the time of the crash.

Steele County, MN — July 28, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 4:30 a.m. on U.S. Route 14 near Owatonna.

Authorities said a semi-truck and a car collided on eastbound U.S. 14 near the interchange with U.S. Route 218.

The driver of the car, whose name has not been made public yet, died in the crash, according to authorities. The truck driver was not hurt.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Steele County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a crash involving a car and a semi-truck, especially one that leaves someone dead, they want to know: How could something like this happen? At 4:30 in the morning, with light traffic and open roads, what went wrong that caused a collision serious enough to end a life? At this point, we don't have answers. We only know that a car and an 18-wheeler collided on U.S. Route 14 near Owatonna, and the car’s driver didn't survive.

But if history is any guide, we can safely say that getting answers won't be as simple as reading a police report.

The key to understanding what happened here lies in the evidence; not just what’s on the roadway, but what’s locked inside the truck itself. That includes the electronic control module (ECM), which can tell us the truck’s speed, braking, throttle position and whether there were any sudden maneuvers in the moments before impact. Many trucks also have in-cab cameras that show what the driver was doing at the time; something as simple as glancing down at a phone can become a critical detail.

Was the truck driver alert? Was fatigue a factor? Was there a visibility issue or a mechanical failure? Right now, we just don’t know. And depending on whether the truck changed lanes into the car or vice versa, very different questions will need to be answered.

Authorities say the crash is still under investigation, which is as it should be. But far too often those investigations don't dig deep enough. Families deserve better than vague answers; they deserve the full truth, and that only comes from careful, independent examination of every aspect of the crash.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear how the crash happened or which vehicle changed lanes, which is critical to understanding fault.
• Black box data, in-cab video and cell phone records could help clarify what the truck driver was doing before the crash.
• Thorough investigation requires more than a crash report. It requires access to the truck, the driver’s records and company policies.
• Real accountability is only possible after all the evidence has been gathered and analyzed.