A young girl was injured Tuesday morning in a crash involving a tractor-trailer on Interstate 55 in Memphis, Tennessee.
According to the Memphis Police Department, the crash occurred just before 7:45 a.m. near South Third Street. Authorities reported that the collision involved a tractor-trailer and another vehicle that overturned on the interstate. The injured child was transported to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and is expected to recover. No additional details about how the crash occurred or the sequence of events have been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Whenever I read about a crash involving a semi-truck and an overturned passenger vehicle, I think about the importance of understanding exactly how the collision unfolded. In my experience, these cases often raise questions about timing, positioning, and whether the commercial vehicle was being operated safely for the conditions at the time of the crash.
Could Distraction or Fatigue Have Contributed to the Crash?
With large trucks sharing the road with smaller vehicles, attentiveness from commercial drivers is critical. One of the first questions investigators should explore is whether the truck driver was fully alert and focused when the crash occurred. Distraction, whether from in-cab systems or other sources, along with fatigue from long hours on the road, can significantly impair a driver’s ability to react to slowing or stopped traffic.
Investigators should examine the truck driver’s hours-of-service records, recent activity, and any available in-cab video or communication logs to assess whether fatigue or inattention may have been factors.
Could the Vehicle’s Condition Have Limited the Truck’s Ability to Respond?
When crashes involve heavy commercial vehicles, the condition of the truck itself is always a relevant consideration. Investigators should review whether the tractor-trailer’s braking system, tires, and other critical components were in good working order and whether the truck had been properly maintained. A failure in any of these systems could reduce the truck’s ability to avoid a collision, even if the driver recognized the hazard in time. Additionally, if the semi-truck was loaded at or near capacity, the weight of the load could also have affected braking distance and maneuverability.
Was All the Relevant Evidence Collected?
In crashes like this, it’s important that investigators gather all available evidence before reaching conclusions. That includes Engine Control Module (ECM) data from the semi-truck, which can provide information about speed, braking, and throttle input at the time of the crash.
Physical evidence from the scene, including vehicle positions, skid marks, debris patterns, and damage analysis, will help reconstruct the sequence of events. If dash cam or traffic camera footage is available, it may offer critical insight into how the collision began and whether evasive action was attempted.
Why a Full Investigation Is Essential
When a crash involves a semi-truck and results in serious injuries, there are often more questions than answers in the early stages of the investigation. From my experience, the only way to understand what happened and why is through a careful review of the facts, the vehicle’s performance, and the driver’s actions. That process is essential to providing answers for those affected.