Wood County, OH — August 21, 2025, at least one person was injured in an early morning truck accident on Interstate 90/Ohio Turnpike.

Authorities said a Volvo semi-truck was heading east near exit 71 east of Perrysburg when it rear-ended another Volvo semi-truck. One of the trucks caught fire after the crash.

The driver of the burning truck was flown to a nearby hospital after being pulled from the vehicle by another driver, according to authorities.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Wood County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a semi-truck rear-ended another semi on the interstate, most assume it’s an open-and-shut case: one driver wasn’t paying attention and hit the one in front. But that assumption leaves out the hard part: proving what happened and why. And until that’s done, it’s too soon to say who’s responsible.

The available reports don’t tell us whether the truck that got hit was stopped or just moving slower. That alone makes a big difference. If it was stopped in a travel lane, the focus shifts to whether it had proper hazard signals or lighting. If it was moving, we need to know how fast both vehicles were going and whether the rear truck had time to slow down.

The fact that one of the trucks caught fire adds another layer. Was the fire caused by the impact? If so, that could suggest a particularly high-speed collision. Or did something in the truck's cargo or fuel system make it more prone to ignite? Again, we just don’t know yet.

What I can say from experience is that finding those answers takes more than reviewing a police report. The most useful evidence usually comes from inside the trucks themselves. Engine control modules (ECMs) often record speed, braking and throttle use just before a crash. Many companies also install dash cams and in-cab video systems that can show whether a driver was distracted or failed to react. Without that data, you’re just guessing.

It’s also important to look at who put each driver behind the wheel. A crash like this raises questions about training, fatigue management and whether either driver had a history of past incidents. I’ve handled cases where trucking companies cut corners in hiring, putting drivers on the road who had no business being there. Whether that’s relevant here remains to be seen, but it’s one of many things that should be looked into.

The investigation is still in its early stages, and it’s not clear whether law enforcement will dig deep enough to uncover all these details. That’s why independent investigations are often necessary: to make sure every potential cause is accounted for and that those responsible are identified based on real evidence, not assumptions.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s unclear whether the lead truck was stopped or moving, which affects who may be responsible.
• Rear-end crashes between 18-wheelers require black box data, dash cams and driver records to establish the facts.
• The truck fire raises questions about vehicle speed, cargo or fuel system integrity.
• Trucking company policies and hiring practices may come into play, depending on what’s uncovered.
• Thorough investigation is essential to determine accountability based on facts, not assumptions.