Olmsted County, MN — November 21, 2025, one person was killed and another was injured in a truck accident at approximately 1:45 p.m. along Interstate Highway 90.

According to authorities, a 41-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman from La Crosse, Wisconsin, were traveling in an eastbound Chevrolet Impala on an I-90 exit ramp when the accident took place. The exact location of the wreck has not been specified in news reports.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, a collision occurred between the Impala and an 18-wheeler where the exit ramp intersected with a country road.

The woman reportedly sustained fatal injuries over the course of the accident. The man suffered injuries, as well, though they were apparently non-life-threatening.

Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identities of the victims—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a vehicle exits the interstate and is struck by an 18-wheeler traveling on a rural crossroad, the most important question becomes: Who had the right of way, and did both drivers follow it? These types of intersections—where high-speed off-ramps meet lower-speed country roads—require split-second judgment and clear traffic control. If either vehicle failed to yield when required or misjudged the timing, the result can be catastrophic.

In this case, the Chevrolet Impala was exiting I-90 when it entered an intersection with a country road and collided with an 18-wheeler. Since the truck was traveling along the rural road, investigators will need to determine whether the Impala had a stop or yield sign—and whether the truck driver was approaching at a safe speed for that type of intersection. Just because a vehicle is on the through road doesn’t mean it can ignore the risks that come with a highway interchange.

This also raises questions about visibility. Exit ramps often descend at angles that can obstruct a driver’s view of cross traffic, especially if there’s no traffic light or if the signage is unclear. If trees, elevation changes, or poor signage limited the Impala driver’s ability to see the oncoming truck—or vice versa—those conditions need to be fully documented. I’ve seen cases where intersection design played a significant role in a crash, even when one driver technically had the right of way.

Truck driver speed will also be a central factor. Commercial drivers are trained to adjust their speed when approaching intersections—particularly those near freeway off-ramps—because they must anticipate vehicles entering their path. If the 18-wheeler was traveling too fast for the layout of the road or failed to take reasonable precautions near a known merge point, that could shift liability even if the car entered the roadway first.

Ultimately, this isn’t just about who entered the intersection—it’s about whether both drivers had the time, visibility, and legal responsibility to avoid the collision.

Key Takeaways:

• The 18-wheeler was on the rural road, meaning the Impala likely had to yield—but that doesn’t eliminate scrutiny of the truck driver’s actions.
• Visibility and signage at the intersection will be critical in determining whether either driver could have seen the other in time.
• Truck driver speed and attentiveness must be examined, especially when approaching a known off-ramp crossing.
• Intersection design and sightlines may have contributed to the crash and should be part of any reconstruction.
• A complete investigation is needed to determine whether this was a preventable crash and who, if anyone, failed to yield appropriately.