Camden County, MO — November 2, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident just after 11 p.m. on State Route 5 south of Camdenton.

Authorities said a northbound 2011 Chevrolet Impala and a southbound 2022 Peterbilt semi-truck collided near Dry Hollow Road.

The Chevrolet driver, a 19-year-old man from Steelville, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. His name has not been made public yet.

The truck driver was not injured, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a crash between a car and an 18-wheeler, and only the person in the car is killed, it’s natural to assume the truck driver must have done something wrong. That might be the case here, but based on what’s been released so far, we just don’t have enough information to say.

According to initial reports, a northbound Chevrolet Impala and a southbound semi-truck collided late at night on Route 5 outside Camdenton. The young man driving the Impala died at the scene. The truck driver was not injured. Beyond that, we don’t yet know how the crash unfolded. Did one vehicle cross the center line? Was one trying to turn? Did visibility or speed play a role?

These aren’t just academic questions. They’re central to figuring out who was at fault. And right now, none of them have been answered.

Depending on whether the truck crossed into the Impala’s lane or the other way around, very different legal questions arise. If the truck veered over the line, then investigators will need to look closely at what caused that. Was the driver distracted, fatigued or reacting to something in the roadway? Did brake failure or improperly loaded cargo contribute to the loss of control? On the other hand, if the car crossed over, it still matters whether the truck had time to react, or whether anything about the truck’s condition or the driver’s actions made the outcome worse.

That’s why serious crash investigations go far beyond just looking at the scene. They involve black box data from the truck, dash cam footage (if available), driver logs, cell phone records, maintenance history and company safety policies. It takes a full accounting of all those things to get to the truth, and to make sure the right people are held responsible.

I’ve worked on cases where initial reports seemed straightforward, but the deeper we dug, the more we uncovered. One involved a crash where police first blamed the victim, but engine control module data later showed the truck was speeding and had barely braked. Another case revealed a driver who had no business behind the wheel: someone with multiple firings and almost no training, hired anyway by a company that cut corners. Getting justice in those cases didn’t happen by accident. It happened because someone asked the right questions and got the right evidence.

Key Takeaways:

• Reports don’t yet say how or why the crash happened. Critical facts are still unknown.
• Who crossed into whose lane (if anyone did) is a key unanswered question.
• Black box data, dash cams and driver records are essential for determining fault.
• Trucking company policies, training and equipment condition may also factor in.
• Real accountability depends on a thorough, independent investigation.