Berrien County, MI — March 2, 2025, eight people were injured in a truck accident at about 6 p.m. on eastbound Interstate 94 near Union Pier.

Authorities a semi-truck collided with a tour bus near mile marker 10. The impact forced the bus off the road, while the truck overturned.

The truck driver and seven passengers on the bus were hospitalized with what authorities described as non-life-threatening injuries. Their names have not been made public yet.

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

Commentary

When a semi-truck collides with a tour bus, the most important question isn’t just what happened, but why it happened. Crashes involving large commercial vehicles are rarely simple, and an investigation should focus on whether this was due to driver error, mechanical failure or road conditions.

One key factor is which vehicle had the right of way. Did the semi-truck rear-end the bus, or did one of the vehicles change lanes unsafely? If the truck driver misjudged stopping distance, was following too closely or was distracted that could explain why they were unable to avoid hitting the bus. Reviewing black box data, dashcam footage and witness statements will be critical in determining how the crash unfolded.

Another important issue is whether speed played a role. Trucks require much longer stopping distances than passenger vehicles, and if the truck was traveling too fast for traffic conditions, that could have contributed to the crash. Investigators should examine whether traffic was slowing, if weather affected road grip and whether the truck was following safe driving practices.

Mechanical issues should also be considered. Did the truck experience a brake failure or steering problem? A full mechanical inspection should be conducted to rule out whether maintenance failures contributed to the crash.

The fact that both the truck and the bus went off the road suggests this was a significant impact. That raises concerns about whether the bus driver had time to react and whether the bus itself was properly equipped to protect its passengers. Tour buses are required to meet certain safety standards, and if those weren’t followed — such as missing seat belts or weak structural integrity — those issues need to be examined as well.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities only focus on who hit whom without asking why it happened, they risk missing key details. A proper investigation should look at driver behavior, vehicle conditions and road factors to ensure that all contributing causes are understood.