San Bernardino, CA — January 20, 2026, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 5:45 a.m. on the 210 Freeway/Foothill Freeway.

Authorities said an eastbound Hyundai Sonata collided with a semi-truck near the interchange with Interstate 215/Mojave Freeway, forcing both vehicles onto the right shoulder.

The Hyundai driver, whose name has not been made public yet, died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a deadly collision between a passenger car and an 18-wheeler, like the one that just happened in San Bernardino, the first question they usually ask is, How could something like this happen? The authorities say both vehicles ended up on the shoulder, but haven’t yet said what caused the crash in the first place. That’s the missing piece that matters most.

At this stage, it’s not clear whether the truck hit the car, the car hit the truck or if some other factor — like road conditions, visibility or a sudden lane change — set things in motion. Without those details, it’s impossible to understand where accountability may lie. But I’ve handled enough of these cases to know that crashes like this don’t happen in a vacuum. They’re the result of actions, decisions and sometimes deeply flawed systems.

One of the first steps in any serious truck crash investigation is to gather the digital evidence. That includes data from the truck’s engine control module (its “black box”), which can show speed, braking and steering input in the moments before impact. In-cab cameras, if installed, can tell us whether the driver was distracted, fatigued or responding to a sudden event. Cell phone records may show whether the driver was on a call or texting at the time. None of this can be guessed at; it has to be retrieved and analyzed.

Another set of questions revolves around the truck driver’s history and the company that put him on the road. Was the driver properly trained? Did the trucking company run thorough background checks before hiring? I once handled a case involving a driver who had been fired from multiple jobs for poor performance, only to be rehired by a company that barely tested her skills. That crash, like many others, could have been avoided if someone had done their due diligence.

We also need to consider vehicle maintenance, road layout and even timing. This crash happened at 5:45 a.m. Was it still dark? Was visibility limited? Depending on whether the truck was merging, parked on the shoulder, or in active travel lanes, entirely different liabilities could apply.

Unfortunately, the only detail we do have is the outcome: one person lost their life. But to understand how and why that happened, we’ll need to go beyond the initial report and look at the full body of evidence. Without that, we’re just guessing, and guessing doesn’t bring answers or accountability.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear what triggered the crash or which vehicle struck the other.
• Black box data, dash cams and cell phone records are key to uncovering the facts.
• The truck driver’s history and the company’s hiring policies may play a role.
• Time of day and road conditions could have contributed but need investigation.
• Real answers come only from thorough, evidence-based investigation.