Hamiton County, IN — June 5, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 1:45 p.m. on southbound Interstate 69 near Fishers.

Authorities said two semi-trucks were involved in a crash near Exit 210, causing one of them to catch fire.

One person, whose name has not been made public yet, died in the crash, according to authorities. It is not clear at this time how the person was involved in the accident.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Hamilton County crash. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary

When people hear that a crash involved two 18-wheelers, one of which caught fire, and resulted in a fatality, their first question is often, "How could something like this happen on a major highway in the middle of the day?" That’s a fair question, and one we don’t yet have the answers to. But the fact that we don’t know doesn't mean we can't start asking the right ones.

Authorities have said that two semi-trucks collided near Exit 210 on I-69, and that one of them caught fire. One person died, but it’s not clear whether that person was a truck driver, a passenger or possibly someone in another vehicle. Without that basic detail, it’s hard to draw even preliminary conclusions about how this crash unfolded or who may have been at fault.

We also don’t know what led to the collision. Did one of the trucks stop suddenly? Was one trying to change lanes? Did a mechanical failure cause one truck to swerve or lose control? Depending on the answers, the focus of the investigation could be very different.

When two trucks collide, investigators need to move fast to preserve evidence. That means pulling engine control module (ECM) data from both vehicles to see what each driver was doing in the seconds leading up to the crash; were they accelerating, braking, swerving or speeding? Dash cams and in-cab video (if they exist) can help determine if one driver was distracted or failed to notice something important.

Phone records are another key piece of the puzzle. It’s not uncommon to find out that a driver was on a call or texting just before a crash, but no one can make that determination unless someone takes the step to subpoena those records.

It’s also worth asking whether either truck was carrying hazardous materials or improperly secured cargo. A fire following a crash raises the possibility of dangerous materials being involved, or it could indicate a fuel system breach or electrical issue. All of those have different implications for liability.

Beyond the drivers themselves, there’s always the question of what role the trucking companies played. Were the drivers properly trained? Did either truck have a history of maintenance issues? I’ve handled cases where a driver involved in a deadly crash should never have been on the road, either because of a bad driving record or because they were hired without a proper skills evaluation. When companies cut corners, the results can be catastrophic.

Until we know more, it’s impossible to say who is at fault here. But I can say this with certainty: determining fault in a truck crash like this is rarely simple. It requires a thorough investigation that looks beyond just what happened at the moment of impact.

Key Takeaways

• We don’t yet know who died in the crash or how they were involved, which makes it difficult to assess fault at this stage.
• Critical evidence — including ECM data, dash cam footage and phone records — must be gathered quickly to preserve the truth.
• A post-crash fire raises questions about cargo, fuel systems or hazardous materials that may influence liability.
• Trucking companies’ hiring and training practices often play a larger role in crashes than most people realize.
• Real accountability only happens after a complete investigation that considers all contributing factors; not just the actions of the drivers.