Lexington County, SC — May 9, 2025, one person was killed and another person was injured in a truck accident at about 2 a.m. on Interstate 20.

Authorities said a 2011 Volkswagen sedan was headed the wrong way on the interstate near mile marker 39 when it crashed head-on with an eastbound 2007 Freightliner semi-truck.

The driver of the Volkswagen, whose name has not been made public at this time, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities, while the truck driver was hospitalized with unspecified injuries.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash south of Batesburg. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a wrong-way crash involves a commercial truck, investigators often treat it as an open-and-shut case: blame the wrong-way driver and move on. But even when fault seems obvious, that doesn’t mean the investigation should stop there.

For instance, it’s important to determine how a driver ended up going the wrong way on a divided interstate. Were signs missing or obscured? Did poor lighting or road layout make a mistake more likely? In the cases I’ve litigated involving wrong-way drivers, these are critical factors that often go overlooked unless someone digs deeper.

As for the truck, even when it's struck by another vehicle, its role still needs to be examined. Was the driver alert and following the rules of the road? Did the truck have functioning lighting and reflectors? In my experience, commercial drivers are generally well-trained, but that doesn’t mean the company behind them is off the hook if their policies or maintenance practices contributed in some way.

When one person loses their life and another is injured, the families deserve answers based on evidence, not assumptions. That’s why a thorough, independent investigation is so important in crashes like this. It’s the only way to know for sure what happened and whether anyone failed to meet their legal duty to drive safely.