Lake Havasu City, AZ — January 2, 2025, two people were killed and one person was injured in a truck accident at about 2:30 p.m. on State Route 95.

Authorities said a southbound Dodge pickup collided head-on with a semi-truck near Dub Campbell Parkway.

The impact caused the semi-truck to jackknife in a ditch, according to authorities. Another vehicle ran off the road to avoid another collision.

The pickup driver and passenger were killed in the crash, authorities said. Their names have not been released at this point.

The semi-truck driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities, while the driver of the third vehicle was not injured.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash.

The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

My first thought after reading about a crash like this is to consider the circumstances that led to the vehicles crossing paths. Head-on collisions, especially involving heavy trucks, often result in severe consequences and demand a detailed investigation to understand what went wrong.

One of the primary questions is how the southbound pickup came to collide with the semi-truck. Was the pickup attempting to pass another vehicle or experiencing a mechanical failure? Understanding why the vehicle entered the oncoming lane is critical to determining the root cause of the crash.

The role of the semi-truck’s movement and response also warrants attention. After the collision, the truck jackknifed into a ditch, suggesting a possible loss of control. Investigators will likely look at whether the semi-truck driver had enough time and space to react to the pickup entering their lane and whether factors like speed, road conditions or the weight of the truck’s load played a role in the jackknife.

The actions of the third vehicle, which ran off the road to avoid another collision, also highlight the chaotic nature of multi-vehicle crashes. This driver’s response may indicate that visibility, road design or other traffic conditions complicated efforts to avoid the initial crash.

Additionally, the condition of State Route 95 should be part of the investigation. Was this section of the road straight, curved or hilly, potentially affecting sightlines or creating challenges for drivers? If the area has a history of similar crashes, it may point to systemic issues with the roadway design or maintenance.

Crashes like this one demonstrate the need for comprehensive investigations that examine not only the actions of the drivers involved but also the broader context, including vehicle conditions and the environment. Determining what caused this collision will help identify measures to prevent future incidents and improve safety on busy highways.