Tuttle, CA — July 15, 2025, one person was killed and another one was injured in a truck accident at about 12:30 p.m. on State Route 140.

Authorities said an eastbound Honda sedan was trying to pass slower-moving vehicles near Arboleda Drive when it lost control after the driver noticed an oncoming semi-truck. The car caught fire after being hit by the truck.

The Honda driver, a 31-year-old Le Grand woman, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. Her name has not been made public yet.

The truck driver was hospitalized with moderate injuries, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When someone reads that a car lost control trying to avoid an oncoming 18-wheeler, it naturally raises a lot of questions. Was the truck where it was supposed to be? Did the car driver misjudge the situation? Or was there something else going on that hasn’t yet come to light? Right now, those questions are all unanswered, and until investigators gather more evidence, they’ll stay that way.

The only detail reported so far is that the car tried to pass slower traffic and then lost control “after the driver noticed an oncoming semi-truck.” That doesn’t tell us much. Depending on whether the truck was in its own lane or veered into oncoming traffic, entirely different questions arise. If the truck stayed in its lane, why couldn’t the car safely return to its lane after the pass? If the truck crossed the center line, then the focus shifts to why that happened. Either way, that kind of ambiguity demands a closer look at the truck’s actions and the available evidence.

In cases like this, black box data from the truck can provide a detailed second-by-second account: speed, braking, steering inputs, even whether the driver was accelerating at the time of the crash. Dash cam footage, if available, could show exactly where the truck was positioned and how the car reacted. Cell phone records and in-cab cameras may reveal if the truck driver was distracted, fatigued or otherwise not paying attention.

Until these details are investigated, by someone willing to look beyond the surface, we’re left with a shell of a story. And unfortunately, that’s how critical facts get overlooked.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not clear whether the truck was in its own lane or crossed into oncoming traffic; two very different scenarios.
• Black box data, dash cam footage and phone records are key to understanding what really happened.
• Quick assumptions about fault won’t hold up until the physical evidence is thoroughly reviewed.
• Real accountability depends on getting answers from every available source of information.