Turner, ME — May 7, 2025, Roger Eastman and Fox Keim were injured in a truck accident at about 7:40 a.m. on State Route 4/Auburn Road.

Authorities said a Western Star semi-truck was heading south when it collided with a 2023 Chevrolet pickup, causing a fire when the larger truck's fuel tank ruptured.

Truck driver Roger Eastman, 82, and pickup driver Fox Keim, 51, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after the crash, according to authorities.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Androscoggin County crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary

When a crash involves a semi-truck’s fuel tank rupturing and starting a fire, it raises questions that go well beyond typical fault analysis. Fires after a collision are not always the result of the impact itself; sometimes they point to underlying issues with how the vehicle was designed or maintained.

In my experience handling truck accident cases, fuel system integrity is often overlooked in crash investigations, even though it can be a critical factor. Many commercial trucks still use exposed side-saddle tanks without substantial protection. That means even a relatively moderate impact can result in a fuel spill or fire, especially if the tank is mounted in a vulnerable location or lacks shielding. In this case, knowing the precise point of impact and how the tank failed could help answer whether the fire was a predictable, and preventable, consequence of poor design or improper maintenance.

Beyond that, investigators also need to evaluate whether both drivers were operating safely given the road and traffic conditions. Did either vehicle cross the center line? Were there any visibility issues? Was either driver distracted? These aren’t always easy questions to answer, but data from the truck’s engine control module and dashcams, along with physical evidence from the vehicles, could help reconstruct the sequence of events.

Ultimately, when a crash leads to a fire and serious injuries, the only way to get the full story is through a thorough investigation that doesn’t stop at the roadside. It’s not enough to know there was a fire; we have to understand why it happened and whether it could have been avoided.