Comstock Park, MI — February 14, 2025, two people were injured in a truck accident at about 2 p.m. at Alpine Drive and Henze Drive.

Authorities said a car that had been going south on Alpine Drive turned in front of a northbound semi-truck. The vehicles collided in the intersection, then hit three other cars.

The driver of the first car involved in the crash was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries, according to authorities, while the truck driver suffered a minor hand injury.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this time. The accident remains under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a crash involves a smaller vehicle turning in front of an 18-wheeler, people tend to assume it's a simple case of the smaller vehicle’s driver making a bad decision. That may turn out to be true, but in my experience, these situations are rarely as straightforward as they seem.

One of the first questions I’d want answered is whether the truck driver had any opportunity to avoid the crash. That depends on factors like speed, visibility and reaction time. Investigators should review things like traffic camera footage, black box data from the truck and any available witness statements. If the truck was speeding, following too closely or the driver was distracted, those factors could have played a role in making the crash unavoidable.

Beyond that, there’s the question of whether any other conditions contributed to the wreck. Were traffic signals functioning properly? Was the intersection designed in a way that made it difficult for drivers to see oncoming traffic? I’ve handled cases where a poorly placed sign or an obstructed view led to crashes just like this. These details can make all the difference in determining who is really responsible.

Too often, crash investigations stop at the scene instead of looking deeper. If authorities don’t gather all the available evidence, it’s easy to pin the blame on the driver who turned in front of the truck without considering whether the truck driver or other factors contributed to what happened. The only way to know for sure is through a full, independent investigation.