Henderson County, NC — March 17, 2025, three people were injured following a semi-truck pile-up accident at around 7:45 a.m. on Interstate 26.

According to initial details about the crash, it took place in the area of Peter Guice Bridge/Green River Bridge, southeast of Hendersonville.

Investigators said in their statements that traffic stopped along the interstate due to construction cones that reportedly fell into the roadway. While traffic was stopped, an approaching tractor-trailer allegedly failed to reduce speed and was in the wrong lane of travel when it crashed. This resulted in a 16-vehicle pile-up, authorities say.

Due to the accident, three people had injuries described as non-serious. No other injuries were reported. The truck driver reportedly received two citations.

Commentary

I've handled hundreds of commercial vehicle accident cases, and a common mistake I see people make after situations like the one described here is thinking reported citations make a situation open-and-shut. There really aren't any open-and-shut commercial vehicle accidents. They involve inherent challenges which require experience and careful analysis, and I already see some details in the news that could be a good example of these potential challenges.

The news says traffic slowed due to a truck losing construction cones on the roadway. It's absolutely crucial that a careful accident reconstruction determines what role that played in the crash itself. There are two main reasons for this.

Number one, traffic caused by lost cargo can provide a trucking company with a target to potentially shift blame onto so they can avoid responsibility. Even if their driver made serious mistakes, they can point their finger elsewhere to either get that party to take the blame or to at least minimize their own. If there isn't clear evidence to counter that blame-shifting, it can easily take root and work against the victims and families looking to hold a negligent truck driver accountable for their actions.

Second, it could be that the truck that lost the cones actually does bear some responsibility for what happened here. Authorities say they cited the truck driver who crashed into traffic here. If evidence shows that truck driver made mistakes that led to the crash, then they can certainly bear responsibility for that. That said, the law is nuanced enough that more than one party could be responsible for causing a crash. It's not about just finding some "bad guy" to pin the blame on.

If, for example, evidence shows that the cones falling in the road contributed to the crash, and the truck driver crashing into the resulting traffic also contributed to the crash, then both parties can potentially be held accountable for their portion of the blame. Whether that's one driver being more responsible than another or both parties being equally to blame, the evidence can help ensure there are appropriate consequences for both wrongdoers.

This is why commercial vehicle accidents are typically better off in the hands of experienced, dedicated independent accident reconstructionists. Victims and families can't just look for someone to blame. They need to have all the facts. Where authorities may begin and end their efforts at filing charges or citations, independent investigators focus on getting clear evidence and telling the whole story. This gives victims and families the best chance possible to see a fair resolution for the harms done to them.