Brenda Watson Killed in Pleasant Township Truck Accident
Tractor-trailer struck victim's car head-on during passing maneuver on U.S. Route 68
Brenda Watson, a 50-year-old West Union resident, was killed in a head-on crash on U.S. Route 68 near Hamer Road in Pleasant Township on Sept. 2, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
A northbound 2019 Volvo tractor-trailer attempted to pass another vehicle and collided with an oncoming 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The driver of the Chevrolet, Watson, died from her injuries at the scene. The Volvo truck driver was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation by the State Highway Patrol. No charges have been announced.
The crash highlights ongoing concerns over roadway safety. While Ohio records more than 140 truck-related fatalities annually, national data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows 5,340 people died in crashes involving large trucks across the country in 2024.
When commercial vehicles attempt passing maneuvers on two-lane roads like U.S. Route 68, crash reconstruction investigators look closely at speed, visibility, and driver fatigue.
Investigators will review the commercial driver's electronic logging device and the trucking company's safety records to determine liability in this fatal collision.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Driver fatigue behind the wheel of a commercial truck can be just as dangerous as impaired driving, since drifting off for a moment leaves no time to correct course on a busy highway. Hours of service logs and monitoring systems often show whether fatigue played a role."
"A legal team pulls driver records quickly, since retention windows can be short," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
Ohio wrongful death statute
Under Ohio Rev. Code § 2125.01, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Ohio applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of services and companionship, funeral expenses, and the estate's losses.
"Head-on collisions involve extreme impact forces, making detailed structural reviews of the vehicles absolutely essential. Measuring crush depth and cabin intrusion helps engineers figure out relative speeds at the moment of impact," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "Legal counsel assists surviving relatives by preserving vehicle wreckage, hiring safety experts, and reviewing primary insurance policies."