Carter County, OK — October 30, 2025, three people were injured in an early morning box truck accident on Interstate 35 north of Ardmore.

Authorities said a southbound vehicle broke down and pulled onto the shoulder between Ardmore and Springer when it was hit from behind by a box truck, which overturned after the collision. Another car left the road to offer aid when a semi-truck crashed into all three vehicles.

Three people were hospitalized with unspecified injuries after the crash, according to authorities.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a crash like this — multiple vehicles, a box truck, a semi-truck and people hurt — they understandably want to know: What exactly went wrong here? Was this just an unfortunate chain reaction, or were there preventable mistakes that turned a breakdown into a pileup?

From the reports so far, a few basic facts are known: a vehicle broke down on I-35 and pulled onto the shoulder. A box truck then hit that vehicle from behind and overturned. While someone tried to help, a semi-truck crashed into all three vehicles. What’s not clear is why these impacts happened in the first place.

The first collision, between the box truck and the broken-down vehicle, is a puzzle in itself. Was the disabled vehicle fully on the shoulder, or partially in a lane? Was the box truck driver distracted, drowsy or going too fast to react? Those questions can't be answered without key pieces of evidence: black box data from the truck, dash cam footage (if available) and the driver’s phone records. These are routine items in a proper commercial vehicle investigation, but someone has to ask for them and know how to interpret them.

The second crash raises even more concerns. Why did the semi-truck slam into all three vehicles? That points to a potential failure to slow down, move over or react appropriately to the scene ahead. Depending on visibility, road design and how much time the trucker had to react, different liability issues could arise. But again, it all comes back to the evidence: how fast was the truck going? Was the driver alert? Did their company properly train them on responding to emergency roadside situations?

And then there's the larger issue: Were any of the commercial drivers properly screened and trained before being allowed behind the wheel? I've worked on cases where trucking companies skipped essential steps in hiring, like meaningful road tests or reviewing driving records. In one instance, the company’s shortcuts played a bigger role in the crash than the driver did. That’s not speculation; it came out through discovery.

Key Takeaways

• It’s not clear whether the box truck struck a fully off-road vehicle or if there were visibility or distraction issues involved.
• Why the semi-truck crashed into an already disabled and assisted scene is unknown, but ECM data and dash cams could provide answers.
• Investigators should examine whether both commercial drivers were properly trained and whether their companies followed hiring and supervision protocols.
• Cell phone records, in-cab footage and driver logs are essential to piecing together responsibility.
• The people affected deserve answers, but those answers only come from a thorough, independent investigation that looks beyond the crash scene.