A 35-year-old New York truck driver was killed early Monday morning in a rear-end collision involving two tractor-trailers on Interstate 80 in Cass County, Iowa.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash occurred around 1:10 a.m. in the westbound lanes. Jagdeep Singh, of Floral Park, New York, was driving a semi when it struck the rear of another 18-wheeler operated by a driver from Dover, Florida. After the initial impact, Singh’s vehicle veered into the median and caught fire. He died at the scene. The other truck driver sustained only minor injuries. Authorities have not yet released additional details, and the investigation is ongoing.
Whenever I read about a semi-truck rear-ending another in the early morning hours, I think about the systems and parts that may have failed in the seconds before the crash. In my experience, these cases sometimes come down to whether the truck’s equipment functioned the way it was supposed to. A thorough investigation is the only way to determine whether something on the truck failed and contributed to the fatal outcome.
Could Mechanical Issues Have Caused or Contributed to the Crash?
When a rear-end collision leads to a fatality, especially one involving a commercial vehicle, it's important to consider whether the brakes, tires, or other key systems were functioning properly. If the truck failed to slow or stop in time, investigators will need to determine whether that was due to equipment failure. Brake system failure, for example, could prevent the truck from slowing appropriately—particularly if the truck was heavily loaded or going downhill. Likewise, steering components or tire blowouts could reduce control and delay reaction time.
Was There a Defect in a Truck Component?
In some cases, the problem isn’t maintenance-related—it’s the part itself. Faulty brake chambers, defective tires, or poorly manufactured coupling systems can all lead to severe crashes, even if the truck was otherwise in good condition. If a component failed despite being regularly inspected, there could be grounds to investigate the part manufacturer or supplier. That’s why investigators should carefully examine the condition and history of critical truck components. If the issue wasn’t with how the truck was maintained, it may have been with how it was built.
What Evidence Should Be Collected?
In a crash where a truck strikes another from behind, there’s a tendency to assume it was entirely due to driver inattention or fatigue. But from what I’ve seen, that’s not always the whole story. The truck’s Engine Control Module (ECM) can reveal speed, braking effort, and throttle position. Investigators should also review inspection records, maintenance logs, and the truck’s repair history to see whether any issues had been reported previously.
In addition, it’s important to collect and preserve any damaged parts—especially brake components or tires—so that engineers can examine whether they were defective or failed under pressure.
Why a Detailed Investigation Is Crucial
When a truck driver loses their life in a rear-end collision, it’s easy to assume that driver inattention is the cause. But in my experience, the root cause of these crashes can go back much further—sometimes to the maintenance shop, and other times all the way to the manufacturing line. A full investigation that looks at mechanical performance and part integrity is the only way to get a full understanding of what caused the crash.