West Liberty, OH — February 4, 2026, two people were injured in a truck accident at about 1 p.m. on Zanesfield Road/U.S. Route 68.

Authorities said a northbound semi-truck was slowing to turn right onto County Road 5 when it was hit from behind by another semi-truck, forcing both trucks into a ditch on the west side of the road.

The driver of the second truck was flown to a Columbus hospital with serious injuries, according to authorities.

The driver who had been preparing to turn suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a rear-end crash between two semi-trucks, the first reaction is usually simple: How does that even happen? A fully loaded tractor-trailer doesn’t stop quickly, so when one truck hits another from behind, it raises real questions about attention, timing and what information the driver had before impact.

Here, we’re told one semi was slowing to make a right turn when it was struck from behind by another semi, sending both trucks into a ditch. That description sounds straightforward, but it leaves out many details that actually matter if anyone wants to understand what went wrong.

For example, it’s not clear how long the lead truck had been slowing before the impact. We don’t yet know whether its brake lights were functioning properly or whether the following driver had adequate sight distance on that stretch of U.S. Route 68. We also don’t know how fast the second truck was traveling, or whether the driver had enough time to react but failed to do so.

These are not minor details. In my experience, rear-end truck crashes often come down to what the evidence shows about perception and reaction. Engine control module data can reveal speed, braking and throttle input in the seconds before impact. If either truck had dash cameras or inward-facing cameras, that footage could show traffic conditions, following distance and whether distraction played a role. Cell phone records can also confirm whether the driver of the second truck was fully focused on the road.

There are also unanswered questions about the turn itself. Depending on whether the lead truck was nearly stopped or still decelerating, different issues arise. Was the turn expected at that location? Were there warning signs, turn signals or other indicators that gave following traffic notice? Without that information, it’s impossible to draw firm conclusions.

Finally, crashes like this are rarely just about one moment. Driver training, company expectations and scheduling pressures can all influence how closely a truck follows traffic and how it responds when conditions change. Those factors don’t show up in a short police report, but they often show up in the evidence.

Until a full investigation is done, we’re only seeing the surface of what happened on that road.

Key Takeaways

• A rear-end crash between two semis raises questions that go beyond “who hit whom.”
• It’s not yet clear how fast the trucks were traveling or how much warning the following driver had.
• Black box data, cameras and phone records are critical to understanding reaction time and attention.
• Details about the turn, braking and visibility will shape any conclusions about responsibility.
• Real answers only come after the evidence is gathered and carefully reviewed.