Tempe, AZ — March 5, 2025, four people were injured in a truck accident at about 8 a.m. on eastbound Loop 202/Red Mountain Freeway.

Authorities said a semi-truck and three passenger vehicles were involved in a crash near McClintock Drive. News reports showed one vehicle partially crushed under the truck.

Four people were hospitalized after the crash, including two with potentially life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a crash leaves a vehicle partially crushed under a semi-truck, the most important question is how it happened. These types of crashes often involve issues with following distance, lane changes or braking, and investigators should take a close look at every factor that contributed to this collision.

One of the key concerns in multi-vehicle crashes is whether the truck driver had enough time and space to react to traffic conditions. Semi-trucks require significantly more stopping distance than smaller vehicles, and rear-end crashes involving trucks often happen when a driver fails to anticipate slowdowns. Was the truck following too closely? Was there sudden braking or congestion that played a role? These are critical questions that need answers.

Another possibility is that the truck changed lanes and collided with a smaller vehicle in its blind spot. Large trucks have significant blind zones, but professional drivers are trained to check mirrors carefully before making a move. Many trucks today also have side-mounted cameras or warning systems designed to prevent lane-change crashes. If this truck had those features, were they working properly? If it didn’t, why not?

Finally, there’s the issue of underride protection. When a smaller vehicle ends up beneath a truck, it often results in severe or fatal injuries. While rear underride guards are required on most trailers, side underride guards — which could prevent this exact kind of crash — are not. If the truck lacked these safety features, that’s something investigators should be looking into.

A crash like this isn’t just about who had the right of way: it’s about whether all the safety measures that could have prevented or reduced the severity of the crash were in place. A thorough investigation should go beyond just identifying the point of impact and consider every factor, from driver behavior to vehicle safety features, to determine what really went wrong.