Monroe County, MI — June 13, 2025, Shaine Smith and Cassandra Mullen were injured following an RV versus semi-truck accident in Monroe County.

Right now, specific details about the accident are scarce. News reports say that Shaine Smith and Cassandra Mullen were in an RV traveling from Florida to Michigan. As they were driving, two semi-trucks ahead of them somehow collided. Following this, the RV crashed, as well.

Reports say that Shaine Smith sustained serious injuries and continues to recover. Cassandra Mullen had reportedly minor injuries. Details about what caused the initial collision are still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a passenger vehicle—especially something as large and vulnerable as an RV—becomes part of a crash set off by two semi-trucks, the path to understanding what happened becomes considerably more complicated. The early reports here suggest the RV occupants were caught in the aftermath of a collision that started up ahead, but the critical questions remain: What caused the trucks to collide? and Could that chain reaction have been prevented?

Accidents involving multiple commercial trucks don’t typically unfold without warning. There’s often a combination of factors—following too closely, poor communication between drivers, shifting lanes, mechanical failure, or even just heavy traffic—that sets these events in motion. And when something goes wrong between two 18-wheelers, the resulting disruption can quickly turn dangerous for anyone else nearby, especially vehicles like RVs that are harder to maneuver and offer less protection in a crash.

The challenge investigators face in this kind of case is identifying the sequence of events with limited visual evidence and fast-moving dynamics. Was one truck stopped or slowing when the other failed to react in time? Did one attempt a lane change that wasn’t clear? Or did road conditions or visibility play a role? These are questions that can’t be answered by assumptions—they require physical evidence, driver statements, dash cam footage, and black box data from both trucks, to name a few potentially crucial pieces of evidence.

It’s also worth noting that in past cases I’ve handled, seemingly straightforward rear-end or sideswipe collisions between trucks have revealed much deeper issues—things like inadequate training, poorly maintained equipment, or scheduling practices that put drivers in a bind. Whether those factors are at play here remains to be seen, but they’re worth exploring if investigators want to understand the root cause.

Key Takeaways

• Multi-vehicle crashes involving commercial trucks often stem from complex, layered causes that take time to unravel.
• The initial collision between the two trucks needs to be examined through ECM data, dash cams, and driver accounts.
• Chain-reaction crashes can severely affect surrounding drivers, especially in larger but less crash-resistant vehicles like RVs.
• Investigators should consider whether company practices, training, or equipment issues played a role in the initial truck collision.
• A full investigation is necessary before responsibility can be understood or attributed.