Stark County, ND — January 28, 2026, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 2:30 p.m. on U.S. Highway 85 south of Belfield.

Authorities said a southbound 2005 Chevrolet pickup collided with a beam on an oversize-load trailer before crashing into its axles. The pickup lost control and hit the pilot vehicle in the caravan, a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado.

Both pickups ended up in the ditch on the east side of the road after the collision near mile marker 58, according to authorities.

The driver of the older pickup, an 88-year-old man, died from injuries suffered in the crash, authorities said. His name has not been made public yet.

The driver of the pilot vehicle and two trucks transporting a compressor were not injured, according to authorities.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a pickup collided with the beam of an oversize-load trailer on a highway, the natural question is: How was that beam positioned on the trailer, and why wasn’t it avoided? Oversize-loads are supposed to be handled with extreme care, by experienced drivers, proper equipment and clear procedures to keep other motorists safe. But based on the limited information in the report, it’s not yet clear whether those standards were met here.

The report says a pickup hit a beam on the oversize trailer and then crashed into the trailer's axles. That’s a strong sign that the beam may have extended off the back or side of the trailer in a way the pickup driver didn’t see or couldn’t avoid. If that’s true, it raises critical questions: Was the load marked properly? Were warning flags, lights or escort vehicles doing their job? Was the trailer even suitable for carrying that kind of beam? We don’t know, and that uncertainty makes a full investigation essential.

It's also unclear what the visibility conditions were like at the time, or whether the older driver was struggling to see or react in time. That matters, but it doesn’t erase the potential role of poor loading or route planning. In similar cases I’ve handled, we’ve seen how a combination of bad decisions — wrong trailer, improper tie-downs, lack of lighting — can all contribute to one avoidable crash. More often than not, it’s not just about what the driver did or didn’t do, but about the system around them failing.

Another unusual detail here is that the pickup ended up crashing into the pilot vehicle, the very escort meant to help prevent a crash like this. That tells me something went very wrong with the coordination of this caravan. Either the spacing was off, or the pilot vehicle wasn’t in position to provide enough warning. Again, more unanswered questions.

What’s needed now is a careful look at all the evidence: photos of the scene, dash cam footage (if any), black box data from the trucks and interviews with witnesses. Who loaded the beam? What steps were taken to secure it and warn others? Without that information, it’s impossible to say where the fault lies, but that doesn’t mean fault isn’t there.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s unclear whether the oversize load was properly secured, marked or suited to the trailer it was on.
• A crash involving a pickup hitting a beam and then a pilot vehicle suggests potential failures in spacing, coordination, or visibility.
• Investigators should examine load plans, dash cam footage and driver interviews to determine who made critical decisions.
• These crashes often involve more than one mistake. Companies that load, route and oversee these operations may all play a role.
• Accountability depends on gathering real evidence, not assumptions about any one driver’s actions.