Opelika, AL — August 12, 2025, one person was killed in a truck accident at about 11:40 p.m. on southbound Interstate 85.

Authorities said a Kia SUV crashed into the back of a semi-truck that was stopped near mile marker 57 because another driver was moving debris out of the road.

The Kia driver, a 28-year-old woman, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. Her name has not been made public yet.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Lee County crash at this time.

Commentary

When a commercial truck is stopped in the middle of a highway at night, people want to know: Was it really unavoidable? That's the key question in a crash like this, where an SUV reportedly struck the back of a stopped semi on I-85 in Opelika.

The reports say the truck was stopped because another driver was clearing debris from the road. That’s certainly a plausible reason to slow or stop, but it doesn’t automatically explain how the truck driver responded to the situation or whether that response followed safety protocols. Depending on whether the truck had its hazard lights activated, whether it pulled off to the shoulder and how visible it was at 11:40 at night, very different questions arise.

We also don’t yet know where exactly the truck came to a stop in relation to the debris. Did the driver brake suddenly or swerve? Was there enough time and distance for other drivers to react? What we do know is that a young woman lost her life after her SUV rear-ended that trailer, and rear-end crashes into stopped semis are some of the most lethal I’ve seen in my career.

In these situations, critical evidence can help fill in the gaps. A truck’s engine control module (ECM), for instance, may show when and how hard the brakes were applied. In-cab cameras can reveal the truck driver’s actions leading up to the stop. Cell phone records may show whether the driver was distracted. All of this speaks directly to the question of responsibility; not just in a legal sense, but in terms of explaining how something like this could happen.

There’s also the question of visibility. A stopped semi-truck presents a massive obstacle, especially at night. Was the trailer properly lit? Were reflective markers in place and visible? I’ve handled multiple cases where the lack of conspicuity markings turned a minor roadside delay into a fatal wreck.

Finally, the role of the trucking company can’t be ignored. Their policies on roadside stops, hazard protocols and driver training all come into play. I’ve handled cases where drivers were left to make judgment calls in situations they weren’t trained for, and those poor decisions had deadly consequences. Whether something similar happened here is still an open question.

Key Takeaways:

• It's not yet clear whether the truck was fully off the road or stopped in a travel lane.
• Black box data, dash cam footage and lighting inspections are key to understanding how this crash unfolded.
• Depending on the truck's position and visibility, responsibility could lie with the driver, the company or both.
• Rear-end crashes into stopped 18-wheelers often involve multiple points of failure, not just from the driver who struck the trailer.
• A full investigation is needed to determine who, if anyone, could have prevented this fatal crash.