Fresno County, CA — June 23, 2025, one person was injured in a truck accident at about 9:30 a.m. on Manning Avenue near Reedley.

Authorities said a westbound semi-truck was trying to make a U-turn near Nurmi Avenue when it was rear-ended by a Honda Pilot.

The Honda driver, whose name has not been made public yet, was hospitalized with major injuries, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Fresno County crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When folks read that a semi-truck was making a U-turn and got hit from behind, a natural question comes to mind: Why was a giant commercial vehicle turning around in the middle of a highway in the first place? That’s not something most people would expect to see, especially on a roadway that is not designed for maneuvering 70-foot rigs like a cul-de-sac.

Depending on the exact circumstances, this crash could raise serious concerns about the truck driver's judgment or even the trucking company's routing policies. Unfortunately, the report doesn’t say whether the U-turn happened in an open area or if the truck was blocking the road when the Honda came along. That missing detail matters a lot. If the truck was obstructing traffic, that would fundamentally change how we understand who’s responsible here.

It’s also not clear whether the truck was fully in the roadway or partially off it. The difference between a truck backing into a private driveway versus swinging across both lanes of traffic to turn around could mean the difference between a mistake and gross negligence. Without more information, we're left with unanswered questions that deserve further scrutiny.

In a case like this, I’d want to see the truck’s dash cam footage and black box data. That information can show not only the truck’s position and speed but also what the driver was doing in the moments before the crash. Was he stopped too long in the road? Did he use his flashers or check for oncoming traffic? These aren't just hypotheticals; they’re questions that get answered every day through hard evidence.

And then there’s the issue of why the U-turn was being made at all. Sometimes drivers make U-turns because they missed a turn, got lost or were following vague instructions. If a company sends a driver into an area that’s unsafe for large trucks to maneuver, that’s not just poor planning; it could make the company part of the problem. I’ve handled cases where drivers made dangerous moves because their GPS told them to or because they weren’t given clear routes by dispatch.

Key Takeaways:

• The legality and safety of a U-turn by a semi-truck depend heavily on the location and timing, which remain unclear here.
• Important questions remain about whether the truck was blocking the roadway when the crash occurred.
• Black box data, dash cam footage and routing instructions will be critical to understanding the truck driver’s actions.
• The trucking company’s policies and instructions may be just as relevant as the driver’s decisions.
• Full accountability requires answers from both the scene and the systems behind the wheel.