Manatee County, TX — February 9, 2026, one person was injured in a truck accident at about 4:30 p.m. on Interstate 75 near Parrish.

Authorities said a northbound semi-truck was trying to make a U-turn into the southbound lanes near the Hillsborough County line when it was hit by a Toyota Corolla, which became wedged under the truck's trailer. Traffic had been congested because of a vehicle fire near the exit for Sun City Center.

The Toyota driver, a 28-year-old Parrish man, was seriously injured in the crash, according to authorities.

The truck driver, who was not hurt, was arrested on a charge of reckless driving involving serious injury, authorities said.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a crash like this, the first questions that come to mind are simple: How does a semi-truck end up making a U-turn on an interstate? Was that even allowed? And could this have been avoided?

An arrest answers one question, but it doesn’t answer all of them.

Interstates are controlled-access highways. They’re not designed for U-turns. So one immediate issue is whether the truck driver was attempting an unauthorized maneuver. It’s not clear whether law enforcement directed traffic in a way that required vehicles to turn around, or whether the truck driver made that decision independently. That distinction matters.

Congestion adds another layer. We don’t yet know how fast traffic was moving at the time of the crash. Was the Corolla traveling at highway speed, or had traffic slowed to a crawl? Depending on whether the truck was fully blocking lanes or still in the process of turning, different questions arise about visibility and reaction time.

In a case like this, physical evidence becomes critical. The truck’s engine control module, its “black box,” should show speed, braking, throttle position and other inputs in the seconds leading up to impact. That data can tell us whether the truck was accelerating into the turn, creeping slowly or stopped across traffic.

Dash cam footage, if available, could show how long the trailer was obstructing the roadway. Cell phone records may reveal whether distraction played a role. If traffic was backed up due to the earlier fire, was the truck driver under pressure to reroute quickly? Or did impatience lead to a risky maneuver?

The Corolla becoming wedged under the trailer also raises questions about the trailer’s height and the angle of impact. I’m not suggesting any equipment defect, but those details often help reconstruct exactly how a crash unfolded. Skid marks, crush damage and ECM data together can tell a much clearer story than an arrest report ever could.

Beyond the driver’s decision-making, there’s also the company’s role. What training did this driver receive about handling traffic disruptions? Are there clear policies prohibiting U-turns on interstates? Was the driver following dispatch instructions, or acting alone? Those are not abstract corporate questions; they go directly to how and why the truck was positioned across opposing lanes.

I’ve handled cases where a single maneuver looked obviously reckless on the surface, only to learn later that there were deeper issues: poor route planning, unrealistic delivery schedules, or inadequate training. None of that excuses a dangerous decision. But accountability requires understanding the full chain of events.

Right now, we know a U-turn was attempted, a car struck the trailer and a driver was seriously hurt. What we don’t yet know is why that U-turn happened in the first place, whether it was authorized, how long the truck obstructed traffic and what the objective data will show about the seconds before impact.

Those answers won’t come from assumptions. They’ll come from evidence.

Key Takeaways

• An arrest for reckless driving does not by itself explain why the semi-truck attempted a U-turn on an interstate.
• It’s not clear whether the maneuver was directed by authorities or made independently by the driver.
• Black box data, dash cams and cell phone records will be key to understanding speed, timing and visibility.
• Company training, policies and dispatch instructions may be just as important as the driver’s actions.
• A full investigation should focus on objective evidence to determine exactly how and why this crash occurred.