Lancaster County, PA — April 30, 2025, two people were injured in a truck accident at about 11 a.m. in the 500 block of New Holland Road.

Authorities said a semi-truck and a Jeep Grand Cherokee collided near Phillips Road south of New Holland, trapping the Jeep driver in the wreckage.

Both drivers were hospitalized with unspecified injuries after the Earl Township crash, according to authorities.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Lancaster County crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a semi-truck collides with a passenger vehicle on a rural road like New Holland Road, and one of the drivers ends up trapped in the wreckage, the investigation must focus on how both vehicles were positioned and whether the commercial driver followed the safety standards required by law. Rural roads often have limited visibility, tighter lanes and varying traffic speeds, all of which raise the level of caution expected from a professional truck operator.

Key questions in this crash will center on right-of-way, lane position, and whether either vehicle was making a turn, entering the roadway or attempting a pass. These scenarios are common on two-lane rural routes and frequently lead to collisions when one driver misjudges the speed or distance of oncoming traffic. For commercial trucks, which require significantly more time and space to turn or stop, such misjudgments can result in high-impact crashes, particularly when the opposing vehicle is a passenger SUV.

For the truck driver, the law expects more than just baseline caution. It requires a proactive approach to safety: slowing appropriately for intersections, checking blind spots before turning or merging and never assuming other drivers will yield. If the truck crossed into the Jeep’s lane or turned across its path without a safe opening, that would suggest a failure to meet that standard.

On the other hand, investigators will also need to consider whether the Jeep was traveling at a safe speed or executing any unexpected maneuvers. However, the fact that the SUV driver was trapped and hospitalized — while the truck driver was also injured — indicates a significant impact, likely pointing to a failure of spacing, timing or control by one or both drivers.

Ultimately, when a commercial vehicle is involved in a crash that leaves another motorist pinned and hospitalized, the legal system looks closely at whether that crash was avoidable. Trucks may be larger and harder to maneuver, but that’s exactly why the law demands they be operated with care that goes beyond the ordinary. If the truck’s presence or movements on the road created a hazard that a smaller vehicle couldn’t safely navigate around, then the responsibility for the crash may rest squarely with the party whose job it was to avoid it.