Parma, NY — October 17, 2025, one person was injured in a dump truck accident at about 11 a.m. on Manitou Road near Parma Center Road.

Authorities said a southbound Ford Escape hit a dump truck that was parked along the road, then collided with a northbound SUV.

The Ford driver, an 84-year-old woman, was hospitalized with unspecified injuries after the crash, according to authorities. Her name has not been made public.

No other injuries were reported.

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

Commentary

When a crash involves a vehicle hitting a parked dump truck, it naturally raises questions that go well beyond just “Who hit whom?” The real issue is: Why did this crash happen, and could it have been prevented?

In this case, reports say an 84-year-old driver hit a parked dump truck, then was pushed into an oncoming SUV. What we don’t yet know, and what matters most, is whether the dump truck was parked legally and safely at the time of the crash. Depending on where and how it was parked, that could make all the difference in understanding who bears responsibility here.

For example, was the truck pulled well off the roadway, or was it left too close to the active travel lane? Was it in a marked no-parking zone? Were there cones, hazard lights or other warnings alerting drivers to its presence? These aren’t trivial technicalities. They’re crucial details that determine whether the truck’s presence on the road created a hazard.

Another unanswered question is whether the driver of the dump truck was inside the vehicle or away from it. If the truck was actively being loaded or used for road work, certain traffic control measures may have been required under state or local regulations. If the truck was simply parked, different standards apply.

From my experience, these types of cases often come down to a battle over evidence; things like surveillance footage, dash cam recordings or measurements taken at the scene. And if the truck belongs to a commercial operator, that opens the door to further investigation: Was the driver properly trained? Did company policy allow this kind of roadside parking? Was the truck’s visibility reduced due to poor weather or sun glare?

I’ve handled similar cases where seemingly minor details, like a truck parked two feet too far into the lane, tipped the scales when it came to assigning responsibility. That’s why it’s so important that someone looks closely at the full circumstances of this crash, beyond what’s in the initial reports.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s unclear whether the dump truck was parked legally and safely.
• The presence or absence of hazard warnings could factor heavily into liability.
• Additional evidence — like video, scene photos or witness accounts — will be critical.
• Whether the truck was part of ongoing work or simply parked matters under the law.
• Determining responsibility depends on a full, independent investigation of the facts.