Clifton Park, NY — November 23, 2025, William Reichman was killed in a hit-and-run truck accident at about 8:10 p.m. on Interstate 87/Adirondack Northway.

Authorities said a man was hit by a passing semi-truck when he stepped out of his car after being involved in an accident with two other vehicles near exit 11. He fell into the road before being hit by two other southbound vehicles.

The man, 71-year-old Ballston Lake resident William Reichman, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

The truck involved in the crash has not been located at this time.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Saratoga County crash.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a hit-and-run involving a semi-truck, the first things they often wonder are: How does something like that even happen, and how is the truck still missing? That’s the key question here. A man reportedly stepped out of his vehicle following an accident and was then struck by a passing 18-wheeler that didn’t stop. That raises several legal and investigative concerns.

The biggest unknown at this point is the role the truck played. It’s been described as a hit-and-run, but was the truck driver even aware they hit someone? Depending on the speed, time of day and size of the truck, that’s not something we can assume. That said, there’s also no way to rule it out without hard evidence.

Right now, we don’t know if there’s dash cam footage from other vehicles, nearby traffic cameras, or witnesses who saw what happened. But one critical piece of evidence, if the truck is eventually found, will be its electronic control module (ECM), also known as the truck’s “black box.” That device could show speed, braking and steering inputs at the time of the incident. If the driver swerved, slowed or reacted in any way, that could indicate they saw something and chose not to stop. On the other hand, if there’s no reaction at all, that opens a different line of inquiry.

It’s also not clear if the truck’s company uses in-cab cameras or GPS tracking, both of which could help identify the vehicle and driver. In my experience, many companies do have those systems in place, especially larger fleets, but accessing that data often requires a formal legal process.

Until the truck is located, several questions remain unanswered: Was the driver distracted? Was the truck speeding? Did the driver even know a person was in the roadway? And of course, was the truck’s presence what caused the fatal outcome, or would the victim have been struck regardless?

These aren’t just technical questions. They go to the heart of accountability. I’ve seen cases where early assumptions about fault turned out to be completely wrong once the black box data and driver records came to light. That’s why any serious investigation has to begin with the evidence, not the headline.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear whether the truck driver knew they struck someone or what role the truck played in the fatal outcome.
• The truck’s ECM, in-cab camera footage and GPS data, if available, could provide key insights into the driver’s actions.
• Independent investigation is essential to determine whether the truck caused or merely coincided with the fatal event.
• Identifying the vehicle and driver is only the first step; real answers come from analyzing physical and digital evidence.
• Until those facts are known, it’s impossible to say who should be held responsible.