Bay County, FL — August 12, 2025, one person was injured in a truck accident at the intersection of State Road 79 and State Road 388.

Authorities said a southbound pickup crashed into the back of an semi-truck stopped at the intersection north of West Bay.

The driver of the pickup, a 47-year-old Freeport man, suffered critical injuries in the crash, according to authorities. His name has not been made public yet.

The truck driver was not hurt, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Bay County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a pickup crashed into the back of a stopped semi-truck at an intersection, they may assume the driver of the smaller vehicle is entirely at fault. But as someone who has spent decades unraveling how serious crashes really happen, I can tell you those assumptions often miss important questions, especially when it comes to the truck.

Was the 18-wheeler legally stopped at a red light? Or had it just come to a sudden stop for some other reason? Did it have proper lighting and reflective markings to make it clearly visible at night or in poor weather? We don’t yet know the answers, but each one matters. If the truck’s position or visibility played a role in the collision, that’s not something the public should overlook.

It’s also important to consider what evidence exists to tell the story of how this happened. A crash like this should prompt investigators to pull the truck’s engine control module (ECM) data, essentially its “black box.” That data can show when the truck stopped, how fast it was going and whether it braked abruptly or gradually. In-cab camera footage, if available, can help determine whether the driver was following company policy or possibly distracted. And of course, the truck driver’s logbooks and cell phone records may offer more context.

None of this is about rushing to blame the truck driver or clearing him without question. It’s about understanding what really happened. I’ve handled plenty of cases where a trucking company insisted their driver did nothing wrong, until we got the ECM data, video and driver file, and the picture looked very different.

Depending on whether the truck had been stopped for several seconds or only just came to a halt, different questions arise. If it had been sitting at a red light for a while, the focus turns to the pickup driver’s attentiveness. But if the truck braked suddenly or wasn’t visible due to poor lighting or trailer markings, that could shift accountability. Either way, the only path to real answers is a thorough investigation backed by physical evidence, not assumptions.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear why the semi-truck was stopped at the intersection or how long it had been there.
• Visibility issues, such as poor lighting or lack of reflective markings, could have contributed to the crash.
• Evidence like ECM data, dash cam footage and driver records are key to determining what actually happened.
• Liability depends on timing, positioning and compliance, not just who hit whom.
• A full investigation is needed to make sure accountability lands where it belongs.