Winnebago County, IL — August 13, 2025, one person was injured in a truck accident at about 5 p.m. near Forest Hills Road and Pleasant Valley Boulevard.

Authorities said two cars were headed south when one of them ended up in front of a northbound semi-truck, which collided with the smaller vehicle near the intersection.

The driver of the car was hospitalized with serious injuries after the crash, according to authorities. The driver's name has not been made public yet.

No other injuries were reported.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people see a report about a car ending up in the path of an oncoming semi-truck, their first question is often: How did that happen? And rightfully so. Crashes like this don’t just happen on their own. Something caused a southbound vehicle to end up in front of a northbound truck. But based on what’s been made public so far, we don’t have nearly enough information to understand that chain of events.

At the heart of this crash is a single, critical unknown: Did the car swerve into the path of the semi, or did the semi drift over the center line into the car’s lane? Depending on which direction the vehicle crossed, completely different liability questions arise.

If the car crossed into the truck’s lane, we’d need to understand why. Was the driver trying to avoid something in the road? Were they cut off by the other southbound vehicle mentioned in the report? Or was there a loss of control, possibly due to a medical issue or distraction?

If, on the other hand, the truck entered the car’s lane, that opens up a different set of questions about the truck driver’s behavior and the motor carrier’s policies. Was the truck driver distracted, possibly by a cell phone or navigation device? Did fatigue play a role? Those answers won’t come from a police summary. They require a full investigation, including:

• Engine control module (ECM) data to show speed and braking
• Dash cam footage (if installed)
• In-cab video or audio monitoring
• The driver’s call and text records
• Hiring and training files from the trucking company

I’ve handled cases where those deeper layers of evidence revealed things no one expected, from drivers who never should’ve been hired, to companies that skipped basic safety checks. Without those details, it’s impossible to know whether this crash was caused by a moment of error, a systems failure or something else entirely.

It’s also worth noting that we still don’t know exactly how the second southbound vehicle was involved. The report says it was “headed south,” but doesn’t explain whether it forced the other car into the truck’s path, or had any direct contact. That’s another key unanswered question.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s unclear whether the car or the truck crossed into the opposing lane, and that’s the key to understanding who may be responsible.
• ECM data, dash cams, cell phone records and hiring files are all critical tools to uncover the truth.
• The role of the second southbound vehicle has not been explained and could be central to what happened.
• Serious crashes like this one demand thorough investigation, not assumptions based on first impressions.
• Accountability can’t be assigned until all the facts are in, and that means going beyond what police reports typically reveal.