Semi Splits in Half Striking Bridge Column on I-29 Near Honey Creek, Killing Driver and Passenger
What happened
A semi-truck driver and his passenger were killed Wednesday morning when their truck left northbound Interstate 29 near the Honey Creek exit and struck a bridge support column. According to WOWT, the Iowa State Patrol reported the crash was called in at around 6 a.m. on July 29, 2026. Charles Grandpre, 64, of Salina, Kansas, was driving the semi-truck northbound on I-29 when the vehicle drove through the cable median barrier and crashed into the support column for the Rosewood Road overpass. (WOWT)
Angela Blackwood, 49, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was riding in the truck with him. Both Grandpre and Blackwood were killed; the Iowa State Patrol said neither was wearing a seat belt. The crash tore the semi in half. Southbound traffic was rerouted off the interstate while crews worked the scene, with southbound lanes fully reopened by about 1:40 p.m. As of the ISP's Wednesday evening update, investigators had not yet determined why the truck left its lane.
Our condolences
An ordinary Wednesday-morning drive on the interstate ended in the worst possible way for Charles Grandpre and Angela Blackwood and everyone who loved them. Our condolences go out to both of their families, and our thanks go to the Iowa State Patrol and every first responder who worked an exceptionally difficult scene on I-29 that morning.
Safety context
Seat belts remain the single most effective protection against death in a crash like this one, and this crash is a reminder of just how much is at stake. NHTSA's own data shows that even as national seat belt use has climbed above 90 percent, unbelted occupants continue to make up a disproportionate share of crash deaths: in 2021, 45 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes nationwide were not wearing a seat belt, and pickup truck occupants — the vehicle class closest to a commercial truck cab — had the highest unrestrained fatality rate of any vehicle type (NHTSA). Whether behind the wheel of a commercial truck or riding along as a passenger, buckling up on every trip, every time, is the simplest thing anyone can do to survive a crash they never saw coming.
The rights of the people affected by a crash like this
When a commercial truck leaves the roadway and someone other than the driver is killed or hurt, the law generally allows that person's family to pursue a claim not just against the driver, but against the trucking company or motor carrier that operates the truck — carriers are required by federal law to carry substantial liability insurance specifically because of crashes like this one. If it turns out that fatigue, a mechanical failure, a medical event, or another form of negligence caused this truck to leave its lane, Angela Blackwood's family may have a claim against the driver's estate and against whichever company owned or operated this truck, separate and apart from any fault questions involving the driver himself. Moreover, trucks such as this one are required to carry substantial insurance coverage from which to seek compensation, regardless of the driver's assets and ability to pay. Passengers can even recover against drivers they are related to.
Pursuing a claim when the at-fault party has also died in the crash is legally more complicated than an ordinary injury case — it typically requires presenting the claim through the deceased driver's estate, and it may require opening a probate estate before any claim can move forward at all, all within strict legal deadlines. That complexity is exactly why families in this position benefit from an experienced injury attorney who knows how to pursue these claims while the family is given room to grieve.
The Iowa State Patrol's investigation into why this truck left the roadway is still open, and nothing about fault has been made public. This is a discussion of general possibilities raised by the limited facts reported so far, not a conclusion about what happened on I-29 that morning.
How I help families in crisis
A sudden loss like this one turns a family's world upside down overnight. My job is to take that stress off a family's shoulders, take up the shield to protect and advocate for the rights of their loved ones, and guide them through a devastatingly difficult time. I've recovered more than $23 million for injured people and their families, and I'm proud of the trust reflected in 39 five-star client reviews and being part of a Best of Omaha-winning personal injury team in both 2025 and 2026.
If you or someone you love was affected by this crash or one like it, I offer a free, no-pressure conversation, and if I take your case, there's no fee unless I win.
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