Pinal County, AZ — January 21, 2026, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 8:30 p.m. on Interstate 10 near Sweet Water Village.

Authorities said an eastbound vehicle crashed into the back of a semi-truck near Casa Blanca Road.

A passenger in the vehicle, whose name has not been made public yet, died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to authorities.

The driver, who suffered minor injuries, was jailed on unspecified charges after the crash, authorities said.

The truck driver was not injured, according to authorities.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read that a passenger died after their vehicle hit the back of a semi-truck, a common first reaction is to assume the driver of the car was entirely at fault. After all, they were the one who rear-ended the truck. But in my experience, crashes like this rarely turn out to be that simple once all the facts are in.

At this point, authorities haven’t said much beyond the basics; just that a vehicle hit the back of a semi on I-10 near Casa Blanca Road, a passenger died, the driver was jailed and the trucker wasn’t hurt. But even those limited details raise a number of important legal questions that need answering before anyone can truly understand what happened.

For one thing, it’s not clear whether the semi-truck was moving at the time of the crash or stopped in the roadway. That matters a great deal. If the truck was pulled over or moving unusually slowly in a travel lane at night, it could raise serious concerns about visibility and lighting. I’ve seen cases where trucks failed to maintain proper rear lighting, and the results were deadly. On the other hand, if the truck was driving normally and the other driver was impaired or distracted, that points in a different direction entirely.

What we do know is that the driver of the vehicle survived and was taken to jail on “unspecified charges.” That might suggest possible wrongdoing; maybe DUI, reckless driving or something else. But until authorities say more, that’s just speculation. The key here is not guessing, but gathering facts.

In a case like this, investigators should be looking at black box data from both vehicles. That data can show speed, braking, throttle position and even whether the truck had its lights on. Dash cams, if present, can help clarify lane position, traffic flow and whether any evasive action was taken. Phone records can show whether anyone was distracted at the time of the crash. All of this is standard procedure in a proper truck accident investigation.

And while the truck driver wasn’t injured, that doesn’t automatically mean he, or his employer, is off the hook. If the truck was parked improperly, not lit according to regulations, or otherwise contributed to creating a dangerous situation, then that needs to come to light.

I’ve handled enough of these rear-end truck collision cases to know they often boil down to a failure on someone’s part to take basic precautions, whether it’s the motorist behind the wheel, the trucking company’s maintenance department or the policies that govern how and where trucks stop at night. Only a thorough investigation will show who’s truly responsible.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear whether the semi-truck was moving or stopped, which is critical to determining liability.
• Authorities have not explained what charges the car’s driver faces, leaving important questions unanswered.
• Key evidence like black box data, dash cams and phone records will be essential to understanding what caused the crash.
• Even though the truck driver was unhurt, his actions — and his employer’s policies — may still need scrutiny.
• A full investigation is necessary to determine who should be held accountable and why.