UPDATE (August 25, 2025): Recent reports have been released which state that the 13-year-old boy who had been a passenger in the Dodge Dakota was ultimately unable to overcome the severity of his injuries; he reportedly passed away on August 22, 2025. No further information is currently available. The investigation remains ongoing.

Marena Township, KS — August 20, 2025, three minors were injured due to a truck accident at approximately 3:30 p.m. along 231 Road.

According to authorities, three minors ages 16, 13, and nine were traveling in a southbound Dodge Dakota on 231 Road at the T Road intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a Kenworth 18-wheeler that had been traveling westbound on T Road entered the intersection at an apparently unsafe time, failing to yield the right-of-way to the Dodge. All three occupants of the Dakota sustained injuries of unknown severity; they were each transported to area medical facilities by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

With this update, the key question remains the same: why did the 18-wheeler enter the intersection when it wasn’t safe? Authorities say the Kenworth failed to yield the right-of-way, but they don’t explain whether the driver misjudged the approaching Dodge Dakota, didn’t see it at all, or was distracted. Each of those possibilities points to a different cause.

The tragic update that one of the children later passed away only underscores the importance of getting clear answers. Intersection crashes are rarely accidents in the casual sense—they often result from preventable mistakes or oversights. Investigators will need to review the truck’s black box to determine whether the driver slowed or stopped, check in-cab cameras and phone records for signs of distraction, and inspect the vehicle for brake or visibility issues.

It’s also important to look at the trucking company’s role. Was the driver fatigued from long hours? Did company scheduling or inadequate training play a part? In my experience, those background factors often contribute to a driver making a poor decision at an intersection.

At this stage, what’s clear is that a truck entered the intersection against the right-of-way, three children were hurt, and one did not survive. What remains unclear—and must be determined through evidence—is whether this was a matter of driver error alone, or whether company policies and oversight helped create the conditions for the crash.

Key Takeaways

• The central question is why the 18-wheeler failed to yield the right-of-way.
• Black box data, phone records, and in-cab cameras will be critical in evaluating the driver’s attentiveness.
• Company practices around scheduling, fatigue, and training may also bear responsibility.
• One of the injured children later died, which heightens the need for a thorough investigation into accountability.