Franklin County, IN — August 1, 2025, William Pearson was killed and another person was injured in a truck accident at about 10:30 p.m. on Fairfield Causeway Road.

Authorities said an eastbound 2015 Ford Taurus collided head-on with a 2015 Mack semi-truck near Saltwell Road north of Brookville.

Ford driver William Pearson, 52, of Everton died in the crash, according to authorities. A passenger, whose name has not been made public yet, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after being extricated from the wreckage.

The truck driver was not hurt, authorities said.

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

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a fatal head-on crash between a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck, the first question that comes to mind is: How does something like this happen? That’s especially true late at night on a two-lane road like Fairfield Causeway, where traffic is usually light and there’s plenty of space to avoid each other, so long as both vehicles stay in their lanes.

According to early reports, a Ford Taurus and an 18-wheeler collided head-on near Saltwell Road just after 10:30 p.m. One person was killed and another seriously injured. What those reports don’t yet explain is why the crash occurred or which vehicle crossed the center line.

That’s a huge unanswered question, and depending on the answer, very different legal issues come into play.

If the truck crossed over, we need to understand what caused that. Was the driver distracted, fatigued or experiencing some kind of emergency? Did the truck drift slowly or veer suddenly? These are the kinds of questions that can only be answered by looking at the truck’s engine control module, the vehicle’s black box, and any available dash camera footage. Cell phone records and in-cab camera data can also shed light on whether the driver was focused on the road or not.

On the other hand, if the car crossed over, then the investigation needs to shift toward whether the truck driver had time and room to avoid the collision, or if there was simply no way to react.

Either way, without a thorough independent investigation, we’re left guessing. And in my experience, when a crash leaves someone dead and another person badly hurt, guessing isn’t good enough. Getting to the truth means digging into ECM data, collecting witness statements, reconstructing the crash and sometimes even inspecting hiring and training practices at the trucking company. These aren’t abstract issues; they’re the keys to understanding who’s responsible and why.

One thing’s for sure: accidents like this don’t happen in a vacuum. They happen because someone failed to do what they were supposed to do. The job now is to figure out who that was.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear which vehicle crossed the center line, a critical fact in understanding who may be responsible.
• Truck ECM data, dash cams and phone records are essential tools for reconstructing the sequence of events.
• Investigations should also examine trucking company policies, training and hiring practices if the truck was at fault.
• Without evidence, blaming either driver is premature.
• Independent investigation is the only way to get reliable answers and ensure accountability.