Seminary, MS — February 21, 2025, one person was injured in a morning truck accident on U.S. Route 49.

Authorities said a semi-truck crashed into a utility pole on the side of the highway, knocking down the lines. Another semi-truck, which was coming from the other direction, ripped down some of the lines near East Main Street/State Highway 590.

One of the drivers was hospitalized with unspecified injuries after being extricated from the truck, according to authorities. The other driver was not injured.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I see a report about a semi-truck hitting a utility pole, my first question is how and why the driver lost control in the first place. Trucks don’t just leave the road for no reason, so investigators should be looking into whether this was due to driver error, mechanical failure or an external factor like another vehicle’s actions.

One possibility is that the truck driver misjudged their lane position or was distracted, causing them to drift off the roadway. Another consideration is whether speed played a role: was the driver going too fast to safely navigate the highway? Investigators should also check if road conditions, such as uneven pavement or debris, contributed to the crash.

The second truck’s involvement also raises concerns. Power lines don’t usually hang low enough for a passing semi-truck to snag them unless they were already down. That means the crash had a secondary effect that could have put other motorists at risk. If the second truck brought down more lines, it’s worth asking whether the driver had enough warning to avoid the hazard.

A proper investigation should go beyond the crash scene to review available evidence, such as dashcam footage and black box data. Authorities need to determine whether this was a simple case of driver error or if deeper issues — such as inadequate training, poor vehicle maintenance or unsafe road conditions — contributed to what happened. If investigators don’t dig deeper, they could miss key details that explain why this crash really occurred.