Jefferson County, MO — March 17, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 7:20 a.m. on Interstate 55 near Danby Road.

Authorities said a 2021 Freightliner semi-truck crashed into the back of a 2020 Peterbilt semi-truck south of Festus.

The driver of the Freightliner, a 49-year-old man whose name has not been made public at this time, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The other driver suffered minor injuries.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Jefferson County crash at this point. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary

Crashes where one semi-truck rear-ends another raise serious concerns about following distance, driver attention and whether traffic conditions contributed to the collision. In this case, reports indicate that a 2021 Freightliner struck the back of a 2020 Peterbilt on Interstate 55, resulting in the death of the Freightliner driver. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to driver inattention, sudden traffic slowdowns or another contributing factor.

One of the first questions investigators should answer is why the Freightliner driver was unable to stop in time. Commercial trucks require significantly more distance to slow down than passenger vehicles, making proper following distance critical for preventing rear-end crashes. Reviewing black box data, phone records and dashcam footage will be essential in determining whether inattention played a role.

Another key factor is whether the Peterbilt was moving at highway speed or had slowed or stopped due to traffic conditions. If the lead truck had come to a sudden stop, did the trailing truck have enough time and space to react? Investigators should determine whether congestion, construction zones or other hazards contributed to the crash.

Speed and road conditions should also be considered. Was the Freightliner traveling too fast for conditions, making it harder to stop? If weather, fog or poor lighting reduced visibility, that could have impacted reaction times. Investigators should examine black box data from both trucks to understand speed and braking activity before impact.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on the point of impact without investigating why the Freightliner driver was unable to stop in time, they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a full understanding of what went wrong and whether additional safety measures, such as stricter enforcement of following distances or improved traffic alerts, could help prevent similar crashes in the future.