Branch County, MI — February 26, 2025, one person was injured in a truck accident at about 8 a.m. on southbound Interstate 69.

Authorities said a tow truck crashed into the back end of a semi-truck a couple of miles north of the Indiana border.

The tow truck driver was hospitalized after the crash with undisclosed injuries, according to authorities. The semi driver was not injured. Their names have not been made public yet.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Branch County crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Crashes where one vehicle rear-ends a semi-truck often lead people to assume the trailing driver was at fault. While that may turn out to be the case here, a proper investigation should go beyond surface-level assumptions and examine why the tow truck collided with the back of the semi.

One key question is whether the semi-truck was moving at the time of impact. If it was stopped or moving slowly, investigators should determine whether the truck driver had activated hazard lights or if the trailer’s reflective markings were visible. A stopped or slow-moving semi on the highway — especially in early morning conditions — can be difficult to see if it’s not properly marked.

Investigators should also consider external factors like road conditions. Was there fog, rain or ice that made stopping more difficult? Did sudden traffic slowdowns leave the tow truck driver with little time to react? Reviewing black box data, dashcam footage and any available witness statements could help piece together what happened.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to say exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities stop at the simplest explanation without considering visibility, stopping distance or possible truck driver actions, they could miss critical details that might help prevent future crashes. A proper investigation should look at all contributing factors, not just the most obvious one.