Lee County, SC — January 23, 2026, two people were killed in a truck accident at 9:15 a.m. on State Highway 411 near Woodrow.

Authorities said a southbound semi-truck collided with a northbound 2019 Honda sedan trying to turn left into a private driveway.

Both people in the sedan died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to authorities. Their names have not been made public yet.

The truck driver was not injured, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a semi-truck collided with a car making a left turn into a private driveway, a lot of assumptions tend to follow. Some might be quick to point fingers at the car for "turning in front of a truck," while others instinctively wonder if the truck was speeding, distracted or not where it was supposed to be. Without more information, both of those assumptions are premature. The only responsible approach is to ask: What do we need to find out to understand how this happened?

The current reporting leaves out some key facts; most importantly, the exact positioning and movement of each vehicle at the time of the crash. It’s not clear whether the sedan turned across the truck’s path or if the truck crossed into the opposing lane. Even if the sedan was turning left, we don’t yet know if the truck was where it was supposed to be or traveling at a safe speed. Those distinctions matter a great deal when determining who, if anyone, was at fault.

This is where proper evidence collection becomes critical. Every modern truck should have an engine control module (ECM) that tracks things like speed, brake usage and throttle position leading up to a crash. That black box data can help show whether the truck driver was driving too fast or failed to react in time. Similarly, dash camera footage, if available, can show exactly how the crash unfolded. Cell phone records, in-cab cameras and even GPS logs can all help paint a clearer picture.

It’s also important to go beyond just the driver. Was this a case of individual error, or did the trucking company put someone behind the wheel who wasn’t up to the job? I’ve handled cases where drivers were barely vetted before being hired, sometimes after being fired from multiple previous jobs. If a company didn’t take its responsibilities seriously during the hiring or training process, that could be just as relevant to the crash as anything the driver did in the moment.

None of these questions have easy answers, and none of them are answered in the initial news reports. But they’re the questions that have to be asked if we want to get to the truth, and ensure that those responsible are actually held accountable.

Key Takeaways:

• The available information doesn’t clarify how the crash occurred or which vehicle had the right of way.
• Critical evidence — such as ECM data, dash cam footage and cell phone records — can reveal what each driver was doing before the crash.
• Depending on the facts, responsibility could lie with the truck driver, the car’s driver or even the trucking company itself.
• Hiring practices, driver history, and training procedures may play a role in whether the crash could have been prevented.
• A full investigation is the only way to determine who should be held accountable.