Jackson County, MI — May 30, 2025, two people were injured in a truck accident at about 11 a.m. on westbound Interstate 94.

Authorities said a semi-truck crashed into two other semi-trucks and a pickup as traffic slowed near Parma Road. The crash closed all westbound lanes of the highway for several hours, as cleanup was required after fluids from the wrecked vehicles flowed into a nearby river.

Two of the other drivers involved in the collision were hospitalized after the crash, according to authorities. One initially was in critical condition, but that driver has since been upgraded to serious.

The driver of the first truck had to be extricated from his vehicle, but there is not any indication that driver was injured in the crash near Parma.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Jackson County crash.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a semi-truck plowed into multiple vehicles on a major interstate, the first thing they want to know is: how does something like that happen? Especially in daylight, with traffic already slowing down. From the details available so far, it sounds like the first truck hit two other semis and a pickup from behind, suggesting that traffic was either stopped or moving slowly at the time of the crash. But we don't yet know why that first truck didn’t stop in time, and until that’s answered, there’s a lot we still don’t know about what caused this.

One possibility is that the driver simply wasn’t paying attention. But that’s not something we can assume. The only way to get a real answer is to look at the evidence: Did the truck have a dash cam or an in-cab camera system? What does the engine control module, often called the truck’s “black box," say about the truck’s speed and braking before impact? Was the driver using a cell phone? That’s not something you can tell by looking at a wrecked truck, but it could be revealed through call logs or GPS data.

Even then, it's not always just about the driver. I’ve handled cases where a trucking company put someone on the road who never should have been behind the wheel. Maybe the driver was poorly trained. Maybe the company skipped a proper background check or ignored a string of past driving violations. I had one case where the company’s idea of a road test was a 20-minute loop in good weather. That’s not an evaluation; it’s a liability.

And this crash raises another important layer: environmental harm. Reports say fluids from the wreck spilled into a nearby river, which tells me this was a significant collision. Cleanup crews don’t shut down an interstate for hours unless there’s serious damage or danger. The question becomes: did something about the way the cargo was secured or the trucks were maintained contribute to the severity of the wreck?

We also don’t know whether the truck that caused the crash was moving or already stopped when it was hit. Depending on the answer, entirely different questions arise about reaction time, following distance, and vehicle control.

The investigation will need to answer all of these questions. Until then, any assumptions about who’s to blame are premature. Real accountability only comes when all the evidence is in and someone has taken the time to look at the full picture.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not clear why the first truck failed to stop as traffic slowed; evidence from dash cams, ECM data and phone records will be key.
• Investigators should examine whether the truck was properly maintained and whether the driver was adequately trained and supervised.
• Environmental damage from fluid spills suggests a violent impact, which may point to cargo issues or excessive speed.
• The sequence of impacts, whether the first truck was moving or stopped, remains an unanswered question that could shift responsibility.
• Getting to the truth requires a thorough review of both physical evidence and company practices behind the scenes.