Pasco County, FL — March 14, 2025, one person was killed and another person was killed in a truck accident at about 5 a.m. on U.S. Route 301.

Authorities said a GMC Sierra was driving south in the northbound lanes of the highway near Mickler Road when it collided head-on with a semi-truck.

The driver of the pickup, a 24-year-old Dade City man whose name has not been made public, died in the crash, according to authorities. The truck driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities have not released any more information about the crash north of Dade City at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Head-on collisions involving semi-trucks and passenger vehicles raise serious concerns about how and why both vehicles ended up in the same space at the same time. In this case, reports indicate that a GMC Sierra was traveling south in the northbound lanes of U.S. Route 301 when it collided with a semi-truck. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to driver error, impairment, road conditions or another contributing factor.

One of the first questions investigators should answer is why the pickup truck was driving the wrong way. Wrong-way crashes often involve factors such as driver impairment, fatigue, confusion due to poor signage or even medical emergencies. Was the driver under the influence, unfamiliar with the area, or experiencing a health issue that led to the mistake? Reviewing toxicology reports, surveillance footage, and witness statements will be critical in determining what happened before the crash.

Another key factor is whether road design contributed to the wrong-way entry. Were there clear signs indicating the correct direction of travel? Did the driver enter from a poorly marked ramp or crossover? If visibility issues or road design flaws played a role, that should be examined closely.

Speed should also be considered. Semi-trucks require significantly longer distances to stop than passenger vehicles. If the pickup was traveling at highway speeds, the truck driver may not have had enough time to react. Investigators should analyze black box data from the truck to determine speed and braking activity before impact.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on the fact that the pickup was in the wrong lane without investigating why it happened — whether due to impairment, road design or confusion — they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a full understanding of what went wrong.