Walworth County, WI — July 3, 2025, one person was killed and another one was injured in a truck accident at about 4:10 p.m. on U.S. Route 14.

Authorities said a southbound SUV collided with a northbound semi-truck while trying to turn left onto County Trunk Highway K near Delavan.

The SUV driver, a 47-year-old Wisconsin man, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. His name has not been made public yet.

The truck driver was hospitalized with unspecified injuries, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Walworth County crash.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that an SUV turning left collided with a semi-truck coming the other way, it’s natural to wonder: Did the SUV driver misjudge the truck’s speed? Was the truck going too fast? Did either driver have time to react?

Authorities haven’t said much beyond the basics, which leaves some key questions wide open. For example, was the truck driver traveling at a reasonable speed for the area? Was the SUV turning across a clear lane, or was the truck already visible and close? Without knowing more, it’s impossible to assign blame, but that doesn’t mean those answers are unknowable.

The truth will come from evidence, like dash cam footage, black box data from the truck (also called the engine control module) and possibly cell phone records. These sources can tell us things like how fast the truck was going, whether the driver hit the brakes or even if he was distracted. That kind of information often makes or breaks a case.

Beyond the crash scene, there’s also a need to look into the trucking company’s role. Did they hire a competent driver with a clean record? Were their training and screening practices solid? In a case I handled, a trucking company hired a driver who had been fired from several previous jobs. Their entire vetting process consisted of a quick 20-minute road test. Unsurprisingly, that driver ended up causing a crash that should never have happened.

In this case, it’s not yet clear whether the SUV driver turned into the truck’s path, or if the truck created the danger through speed, distraction or some other factor. Depending on what the evidence shows, fault could lie with one driver, both or even with decisions made well before either vehicle reached that intersection.

Key Takeaways:

• The biggest unanswered question is whether the SUV turned across a safe gap or into oncoming danger.
• Black box data, dash cams and phone records will be critical in understanding how this crash unfolded.
• The truck driver’s history, training and fitness for duty should be part of the investigation.
• Responsibility may lie with one driver or could stem from broader failures at the company level.
• A full investigation is needed before anyone can say who’s truly at fault.