Torrance County, NM — July 17, 2025, one person was killed and two others were injured following a semi-truck accident at 3:15 p.m. on I-40.

According to initial details about the accident, it happened near mile marker 204 on westbound lanes of the interstate several miles east of Moriarty.

Investigators said that a semi-trailer and an RV somehow crossed paths and collided with one another. Due to this, one person was killed. Two others were injured, one seriously.

At this time, the cause of the accident remains unconfirmed. Investigations continue.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a crash between a semi-truck and an RV leads to a fatality and serious injuries, the focus should be on whether investigators are uncovering every possible contributing factor—not just recording the basics.

Did the authorities dedicate enough time, tools, and resources to the investigation?
A crash involving two large vehicles on a major interstate requires detailed reconstruction. Investigators should have documented vehicle positions, sequence of impact, and road conditions to determine how the vehicles came into conflict. If the scene wasn’t fully analyzed with the right tools, key facts may be missing.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
Large vehicles like RVs and semi-trucks are complex machines. Brake failures, steering issues, or trailer sway can all lead to dangerous situations, especially at highway speeds. Without thorough inspections of both vehicles, it’s difficult to say whether something mechanical contributed to the crash.

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Both the RV and the semi-truck may have stored vital pre-crash data—speed, throttle position, braking, and steering input. That data can help piece together what actions each driver took. But if this data wasn’t preserved promptly, the opportunity to use it may already be gone.

Getting to the bottom of a crash like this requires more than initial impressions—it takes a methodical, evidence-driven approach from the start. If authorities won't do that on their own, independent investigators may need to step in.

Takeaways:

• Crashes involving large vehicles must be reconstructed with care and precision.
• Mechanical inspections are essential to rule out equipment failure.
• Vehicle data can reveal how drivers responded before the collision.