Barren County, KY — July 10, 2025, Zachary Raney was killed in a truck accident at about 3 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. Route 31E/Scottsville Road and Finney Road.

Authorities said a 2008 Yamaha motorcycle was heading south on Scottsville Road when it collided with a 2020 Freightliner semi-truck.

Motorcyclist Zachary Raney, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Barren County crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear that a motorcycle collided with a semi-truck, the assumption often is that the motorcyclist took a risk and paid the price. But legally, that kind of shortcut in thinking misses the bigger issue: How did these two vehicles come to be in each other’s path in the first place? That’s not a rhetorical question; it’s a crucial piece of the puzzle, and one that investigators must answer with real evidence.

So far, we don’t know the exact circumstances of how this crash at the intersection of Scottsville Road and Finney Road unfolded. Was the truck turning onto or off of Finney Road? Was the motorcyclist going straight through the intersection or attempting a turn? Did one of the vehicles fail to yield? These are all unanswered questions, and until they’re resolved, any assumptions about fault are premature.

Depending on whether the truck was moving through the intersection or stationary during the crash, different lines of inquiry open up. For example, if the truck was turning across the southbound lane when the motorcyclist had the right of way, that raises concerns about the truck driver’s decision-making. But if the motorcycle attempted to pass the truck in a way that was unsafe or unpredictable, that’s a different legal scenario entirely.

To get to the bottom of this, I’d want to see:

• ECM (engine control module) data from the truck to determine its speed, braking and gear position in the moments leading up to the crash.
• Dash cam footage, if available, which many freight companies now use for liability protection.
• Cell phone records of the truck driver to rule out distraction.
• Intersection surveillance or eyewitness accounts, if any exist.

It’s also important to know who owns and operates the truck. Different legal duties apply to independent owner-operators versus large motor carriers. If a company hired the driver, then their screening, training and supervision policies matter too. I’ve handled cases where a trucking company hired a driver with multiple terminations on his record and barely tested his ability before putting him behind the wheel. When companies cut corners on vetting, they may share legal responsibility for the outcome.

The goal of any good legal investigation isn’t to speculate; it’s to gather enough verified information to see what really happened. That’s especially important in cases involving motorcycles, which are often misunderstood and underrepresented when it comes to crash dynamics. The law doesn’t care if the victim was on two wheels or four; it cares about who acted unreasonably and what evidence supports that conclusion.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear how the motorcycle and truck came to collide, details about vehicle movements and right of way remain unknown.
• Critical evidence like ECM data, dash cam footage and driver phone records will help clarify what happened.
• Depending on the truck’s ownership, the operating company’s hiring and training practices could come under scrutiny.
• Motorcyclists are often assumed to be at fault, but the law requires a full investigation based on facts, not assumptions.
• Real accountability comes from asking hard questions and reviewing all available evidence, not rushing to judgment.