Coffee County, AL — January 22, 2026, two people were injured due to a truck accident shortly before 6:45 a.m. along State Highway 167.

According to authorities, an 18-wheeler hauling a loaded trailer was traveling on Salem Road at the S.H. 167 intersection when the accident took place. At the same time, a dump truck loaded with sand was traveling on the highway.

The intersection is controlled by a two-way stop for Salem Road traffic. Reports state that the 18-wheeler apparently entered the intersection at an unsafe time, failing to yield at the stop sign. A collision consequently occurred between the 18-wheeler and the dump truck.

The man who had been behind the wheel of the 18-wheeler was entrapped in the wreckage, reports state, and had to be extricated by emergency personnel equipped with the necessary tools.

Both the driver of the 18-wheeler and the driver of the dump truck reportedly sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision. They were each transported to local medical facilities by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment.

Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identities of the victims—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a fully loaded 18-wheeler pulls into the path of another heavy commercial vehicle at a two-way stop, the first question to ask is: What caused the driver to enter the intersection before it was safe to do so? In collisions like this—especially between two trucks with significant weight—the outcome often involves serious injuries, and the responsibility typically comes down to one driver failing to yield.

According to initial reports, the 18-wheeler was on Salem Road, which is stop-controlled, while the dump truck was traveling on State Highway 167, which is not. If that’s accurate, then the law is clear: the 18-wheeler had a duty to stop and yield to through traffic. Failing to do so doesn’t just suggest a lapse in judgment—it raises questions about visibility, timing, and whether the driver was rushed, distracted, or otherwise compromised.

To understand what led to this failure to yield, investigators will need to examine:

• ECM (black box) data from both vehicles to determine speeds, throttle input, and braking behavior;
• Visibility at the intersection, including whether sightlines were clear or obstructed by trees, buildings, or other vehicles;
• Traffic control compliance, confirming whether the 18-wheeler came to a complete stop and whether the stop sign was visible and properly placed;
• Driver fatigue or distraction, particularly given the early hour, which may have affected awareness or reaction time;
• Intersection design and signage, including whether the layout gave the truck driver adequate time to assess and react to cross traffic.

In cases I’ve handled involving similar two-way stop intersections, we often found that drivers on the stop-controlled road misjudged how fast cross traffic was approaching—or didn’t see it at all due to poor line of sight or limited visibility. But I’ve also seen situations where the stop sign itself was blocked or missing, creating confusion about right of way.

Given that both vehicles were loaded—one hauling a trailer, the other a dump bed full of sand—the margin for error was slim. Even a few seconds of misjudgment or hesitation can be enough to cause a collision of this magnitude.

Key Takeaways:

• Initial reports suggest the 18-wheeler failed to yield at a two-way stop, entering the intersection at an unsafe time.
• Investigators will need to confirm stop compliance, vehicle speed, and visibility conditions to determine fault.
• ECM data and physical evidence will clarify how much time each driver had to react.
• Early morning timing raises concerns about driver alertness and environmental visibility.
• Full accountability will depend on whether the 18-wheeler’s actions were a result of poor judgment, limited sightlines, or a preventable oversight.