Boone County, KY (November 17, 2025) – Hermon Estes, a 75-year-old Covington roofer, was killed on U.S. 42 when his pickup was struck by two dump trucks in a multi-vehicle collision.
Accident Details: County officials report that Estes was driving his pickup northbound and slowed to a stop for reasons that remain unclear. A loaded dump truck behind him was unable to brake in time and collided with the back of his vehicle.
The impact pushed Estes’ pickup into the path of another dump truck coming from the opposite direction, causing a second collision. Estes died at the scene.
Investigation: The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the crash, which was captured on the dash cameras of both dump trucks involved. These recordings will provide crucial insight into the moments leading up to the impact.
As part of their investigation, authorities will:
- Analyze dashcam footage to determine vehicle speed, lane positions, braking behavior, and the timing of events leading up to the collision.
- Document physical evidence at the scene, such as skid marks, points of impact, and where the vehicles stopped. This evidence will help show how the pickup was hit from behind and then pushed into oncoming traffic.
- Examine the mechanical condition of the dump trucks, with a focus on the brakes, as the fully loaded truck was unable to stop in time.
- Review environmental factors, such as sightlines, roadway grade, and traffic flow, to assess whether conditions may have limited the driver’s ability to stop safely.
- Interview drivers and witnesses to gather firsthand accounts of the vehicles’ movements and reactions.
Accident reconstruction is often utilized in crashes involving large commercial vehicles. By analyzing vehicle dynamics, force of impact, and braking distances, investigators can better understand how the sequence unfolded and whether negligent actions contributed to the fatal outcome.
Legal Considerations: Rear-end collisions frequently raise questions of negligence. Dump truck drivers are expected to maintain adequate following distance and control, taking into account their vehicle’s weight and extended stopping distance.
If evidence shows that the rear dump truck driver failed to slow down or left too little room to stop safely, such conduct may be deemed negligent. In that case, Estes’ family could have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim, which may allow recovery for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and the profound emotional harm caused by the sudden loss of a loved one.
My heartfelt condolences go out to Hermon Estes’s family and friends.
Source: WLWT5