Manchester, NH — March 5, 2025, Vanessa Popovich was injured in a truck accident at about 5 p.m. on northbound Interstate 93.

Authorities said a 2008 Acura TL veered out of its lane and became entangled with a 2017 Freightliner semi-truck.

Acura driver Vanessa Popovich, 31, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a passenger vehicle veers out of its lane and becomes entangled with a semi-truck, it’s easy to assume driver error was the main cause. But my experience handling truck accident cases tells me that a proper investigation should go beyond that assumption and ask why the car left its lane in the first place.

Several factors could have contributed to this crash. Road conditions should be examined. Was there debris, uneven pavement or poor weather that may have caused the driver to lose control? Some highways develop grooves from heavy truck traffic, making it easier for smaller vehicles to drift unexpectedly.

Another important question is whether a mechanical issue played a role. A sudden tire blowout or brake failure could explain why the vehicle veered out of its lane. Investigators should review the Acura’s maintenance records to determine if a mechanical failure contributed to the crash.

Beyond that, traffic conditions at the time of the crash need to be considered. Was the Acura forced out of its lane by another vehicle? Was there congestion that caused abrupt lane changes? Many multi-lane highway crashes happen when drivers react to traffic patterns they didn’t anticipate.

While the truck driver may not have been injured, their role still needs to be examined. Did the semi-truck have proper lane positioning, or was it drifting slightly into the Acura’s space? Did the trucker have time to react and avoid contact? These details matter in determining whether this crash was entirely unavoidable or if it could have been prevented.

A full investigation should consider all these factors — road conditions, vehicle performance, traffic flow and driver behavior — to ensure the true cause of the crash is understood. Otherwise, there’s a risk of oversimplifying an incident that may have been more complex than it first appeared.