Delmar, DE — March 11, 2025, three people were injured in a three-truck accident at approximately 2:00 p.m. along Sussex Highway (U.S. Highway 13).

According to authorities, a 27-year-old man was traveling in a southbound Peterbilt 18-wheeler on U.S. 13 in the vicinity of the Raceway Road intersection when the accident took place.

The Peterbilt was apparently attempting a right turn into a parking lot. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a southbound Freightliner hauling a load of logs failed to appropriately control its speed. It reportedly struck the rear-end of the turning Peterbilt. The impact apparently caused the Freightliner to overturn, losing its load of logs. Reports state that the collision caused the Peterbilt to be pushed into a Mack 18-wheeler, as well.

The 27-year-old driver and 24-year-old passenger in the Peterbilt sustained reportedly non-life-threatening injuries over the course of the accident, as did the 73-year-old man from the Freightliner. All three were transported to local medical facilities by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. It does not appear that anyone from the Mack was injured. Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identities of the victims—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a multi-truck crash involves a rear-end collision, an overturned vehicle, and spilled cargo, the key question isn’t just what happened, but why it happened. In my experience handling truck accident cases, wrecks like this rarely occur without multiple contributing factors that need to be examined.

Why didn’t the Freightliner stop in time? Professional drivers are trained to anticipate slowdowns and maintain safe following distances, so investigators need to determine why this one failed to do so. Was the driver distracted? Fatigued? Following too closely? Investigators should review dashcam footage, cell phone records, and hours-of-service logs to identify potential causes.

Was speed a factor? Large trucks require significantly more stopping distance than passenger vehicles, and excessive speed can make it impossible to stop in time. If the Freightliner was traveling too fast for conditions or following too closely behind the Peterbilt, that could have been a major factor in the crash. Investigators should examine black box data, braking distances, and traffic patterns to determine whether speed played a role.

Why did the Freightliner overturn? A properly loaded truck should not tip over in a rear-end collision unless there was a significant force or an issue with the cargo. Investigators need to determine whether the truck’s load of logs was improperly secured or if the impact itself was strong enough to destabilize the vehicle. Reviewing cargo manifests, weigh station records, and truck inspection reports could provide insight.

Was the Freightliner being used for commercial purposes? Log trucks are almost always operating for business purposes, which means additional regulations apply. Investigators need to determine whether the truck was overloaded, if the driver was adhering to hours-of-service regulations, and whether the company was enforcing proper safety protocols. Reviewing company policies, driver logs, and maintenance records could help establish whether business-related factors contributed to the crash.

Did vehicle maintenance play a role? Brake issues, steering malfunctions, or other mechanical failures could have prevented the Freightliner from stopping in time. Investigators should review maintenance logs, inspection reports, and crash scene evidence to determine whether equipment issues contributed.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is finding answers. Even if it takes an independent investigation to gather the right evidence, it’s critical to examine every factor to ensure those affected by the crash get the clarity they deserve.