Fort Smith, AR — March 19, 2025, at least one person was injured in a truck accident at approximately 2:30 p.m. along Interstate Highway 540.

According to authorities, the accident took place in the northbound lanes of I.H. 540 in the vicinity of the Grand Avenue exit.

Details surrounding the accident remain scarce. Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a collision occurred involving an 18-wheeler. Preliminary reports have not said how many vehicles were involved in the wreck. At least one person was reportedly sustained injuries of unknown severity. Additional information pertaining to this incident is not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When an accident involves an 18-wheeler and results in injuries, the key question isn’t just what happened, but why it happened. In my experience handling truck accident cases, wrecks like this rarely occur without multiple contributing factors that need to be examined.

What caused the collision? With limited details available, investigators need to determine whether the truck was struck by another vehicle, lost control, or was unable to stop in time. Did a passenger vehicle make an unsafe maneuver? Did the truck driver fail to react appropriately? Reviewing black box data, dashcam footage, and crash scene evidence could help clarify what led to the wreck.

Did the truck’s speed or positioning contribute? Large trucks require significantly more stopping distance than passenger vehicles, and even minor miscalculations can lead to collisions. Investigators should analyze braking distances, lane positioning, and speed data to determine whether excessive speed or improper lane changes played a role.

Was the truck being used for commercial purposes? If the 18-wheeler was hauling cargo, additional safety regulations apply. Investigators need to determine whether the driver was following hours-of-service regulations, whether the truck was properly maintained, and whether company policies placed any undue pressure on the driver. Reviewing company records, driver logs, and past safety violations could help establish whether broader issues contributed to the crash.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is finding answers. Even if it takes an independent investigation to gather the right evidence, it’s critical to examine every factor to ensure those affected by the crash get the clarity they deserve.