August So Far: The Big Crashes Making Headlines in Trucking
Oklahoma City I-44 Rollover Crash Leaves Adult and Child Trapped
August is not even over, and the headlines are already stacked with wrecks big enough to stop traffic, wreck equipment, and in some cases, take lives.
Different states, different setups, different causes, but the impact is the same.
Here is what has been hitting the industry so far this month:
Oklahoma City, OK – I-44 near SW 149th
Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025
A white truck rear-ended an SUV on Saturday morning, flipping over and trapping an adult and a child inside. A ten-year-old managed to get out on their own, while firefighters cut the others free.
Both lanes stayed closed for hours while crews cleared the scene. Injuries were minor, but the delays were not. Rear-end crashes like this often point to distraction, fatigue, or following too closely.
Lake County, FL – Florida Turnpike near Okahumpka
Date: Friday, August 8, 2025
Just after midnight, a semi hit a pickup hauling a boat near the Okahumpka tolls. The impact gouged the road and closed all southbound lanes, sending drivers on long detours through county roads and US-27.
Several people were injured. Darkness, speed differences, and reduced visibility may have been factors. This is still developing as the Florida Highway Patrol continues its investigation.
Vancouver, WA – SE Mill Plain Blvd at SE 160th Ave
Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Rush hour turned deadly when a tow truck ran a red light and hit multiple vehicles. Around ten people were hurt, two had to be cut from wreckage, and one was ejected.
The driver fled on foot to his nearby apartment, where police later found him dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators are considering impairment, a medical emergency, or intentional action. This is now both a crash reconstruction and a death investigation, which will complicate liability and claims.
Summerville, SC – Hwy 78 at Jax Wax Charleston
Date: Friday, August 8, 2025
Security cameras caught a dump truck barreling through the parking lot of Jax Wax Charleston, smashing into parked cars and part of the building. The driver later said he had fallen asleep.
No one was killed, but the damage was significant. The store owner says this is the seventh dump truck incident in the area in just one week, raising questions about driver scheduling and route safety.
Tacoma, WA – SR-512 at the I-5 Overpass
Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
Video shows a semi tipping over while making a left turn from SR-512 toward the I-5 overpass. The rollover blocked all eastbound lanes during peak traffic.
Even low-speed turns can be risky with a high center of gravity or shifting cargo. Crews worked for hours to right the trailer and reopen the road.
Fife, WA – I-5 near 54th Ave E
Date: Friday, August 1, 2025
According to Washington State Patrol, a semi changing lanes hit another semi, setting off a chain reaction that involved three trucks and two cars. Two of the trucks rolled over — one was empty, the other carried 37,000 pounds of recycled cardboard.
One car was hit directly, the other struck by debris. No injuries were reported, but the cleanup closed much of southbound I-5 for hours.
Fayetteville, NC – I-95 near NC-24
Date: Monday, August 4, 2025
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, a large truck was towing a box truck on I-95 when the front-left tire of the box truck blew. The blowout caused the tow truck to cross the median and overturn beside NC-24, which runs parallel to I-95.
A driver and passenger were able to escape before emergency responders arrived. The driver was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, and the passenger was not injured.
Sky 5 aerial footage at 7:30 a.m. showed the overturned truck completely upside down with serious damage. Debris from inside the tractor-trailer littered the access road, and pieces of bent metal from the truck covered the roadway. Since the crash did not occur on I-95, interstate traffic was moving freely.
Tire blowouts can result from defects, poor maintenance, or overloading, all of which will get attention in the investigation.
Norfolk Area, NE – Hwy 81 near Industrial Highway
Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
A semi and an SUV collided Tuesday afternoon. The SUV driver was airlifted to the hospital; the truck driver was not seriously hurt.
Investigators are looking at visibility issues, right-of-way violations, or distraction.
The Takeaway
Eight wrecks. Eight different situations. All with the same reality, one moment is all it takes to shut down a road, damage equipment, and change lives.
What stands out:
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Fatigue is a constant threat. Summerville and possibly Vancouver show how quickly tired eyes can become costly mistakes.
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Load control matters. Tacoma’s rollover and Fife’s pileup highlight the risks of top-heavy freight, lane changes, and shifting loads.
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Mechanical issues are not just bad luck. Fayetteville’s tire blowout will lead to hard questions about maintenance and inspection records.
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Driving at night has its own dangers. Lake County’s early morning wreck shows how much harder it is to react in low light.
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Intersections require focus. Vancouver’s crash shows how one missed light can cause chaos well beyond the initial impact.
For drivers, this is not finger-pointing. It is a reminder that small choices, whether to push another mile, check the phone, or rush a turn can decide how the day ends.
For carriers, these crashes are a mirror. The way you handle rest, maintenance, training, and fleet monitoring is the way you keep your operation off the next headline. headline.
Disclosure:
This post is for educational purposes only. It’s not legal advice, insurance advice, or a substitute for calling your agent. We’re good, but we’re not psychic. Policies vary, laws change, and courtrooms get weird. Don’t make decisions based solely on something you read on the internet, unless it’s from us, in writing, with your name on it.
All opinions are our own and do not represent the views of any carrier, employer, or underwriting department that occasionally wishes we were quieter on LinkedIn.
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