A trip to visit family in Minnesota ended in tragedy for an Iowa couple when their car was struck from behind by a semitruck in an interstate construction zone. More than three years later, the truck driver has admitted criminal responsibility for the crash that killed both passengers.
Billie Joe Grimes, 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the deaths of Matthew Henry Hansen, 57, and Cimberly Ellen Hansen, 56. He also pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular operation causing bodily harm, according to court records.
Grimes is scheduled to be sentenced on March 16, 2027.
Investigators determined that Grimes was watching a Netflix program on his phone while driving his 2021 Volvo semitruck along Interstate 35 near Faribault, Minnesota, on August 25, 2023. The crash occurred in an area where construction had reduced traffic to a single lane.
The case highlights the potentially devastating consequences of distracted driving, particularly when a commercial truck approaches slow-moving traffic without responding in time.
A construction zone became the scene of a fatal crash
The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. on a clear, sunny afternoon approximately 50 miles south of Minneapolis.
Road construction required drivers to merge into one lane in each direction. Warning signs, including signs with flashing lights, alerted motorists to the work zone ahead.
Matthew and Cimberly Hansen were traveling in a red 2019 Toyota Camry. The Iowa couple was on the road to visit family in Minnesota, according to their obituary.
A Chevrolet Silverado towing a trailer was traveling ahead of them.
As traffic merged through the construction area, the vehicles slowed to approximately 10 to 15 mph. Grimes, however, was reportedly traveling around 65 mph with cruise control engaged.
According to court documents, the semitruck struck the back of the pickup and the Hansens’ car.
The impact sent the Camry into a ditch. The truck and pickup continued through a barbed-wire fence, leaving a devastating scene for those who witnessed the collision.
People at the scene rushed to help the occupants of the damaged vehicles. Cimberly Hansen was already dead, according to witness accounts. Matthew initially had a pulse, but witnesses said it disappeared within minutes. He was also pronounced dead.
The pickup driver survived with minor injuries, including a bump on his head and shoulder pain.
Investigators found the driver was watching Netflix
When Minnesota State Patrol troopers questioned Grimes, he said he had looked down shortly before the crash. When he looked back at the road, he claimed, the car was directly in front of him.
He also reportedly said he could not stop because of the heavy load he was hauling.
Grimes initially denied using his phone, but investigators later reviewed footage from the truck’s dashboard cameras.
The recordings reportedly showed that he was streaming a Netflix show as he drove through the construction zone.
Investigators also determined that Grimes had passed five construction warning signs, two of which had flashing lights. Despite those warnings and the slow-moving traffic ahead, the truck continued toward the vehicles without sufficient braking.
According to the investigation, there was no evidence that Grimes applied the brakes before impact.
The findings helped establish the sequence of events leading to the collision and became central to the criminal case.
Why distracted driving is especially dangerous in a semitruck
A fully loaded commercial truck requires considerable distance to slow down and stop. When traffic suddenly slows, drivers must recognize the danger early enough to respond safely.
Looking away from the road for even a short period can make that response more difficult, especially in construction zones where traffic patterns change and vehicles may be forced to merge.
Federal commercial driving regulations prohibit truck drivers operating in interstate commerce from texting while driving or using handheld mobile phones. Those rules are designed to reduce distractions that can interfere with safe vehicle operation.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also warns that distractions can include activities inside the cab that divert a driver’s attention from the road. Its safety guidance emphasizes keeping attention on traffic and avoiding activities that interfere with driving. <Cite refs={[“turn743833search0″,”turn743833search5”]}/>
The allegations in Grimes’ case involved streaming a television show rather than simply checking a message. The reported dashboard-camera evidence became an important part of establishing what he was doing in the moments before the crash.
The incident also illustrates why construction zones require particular attention. Drivers may encounter sudden slowdowns, lane closures and vehicles merging into restricted spaces, leaving less room to correct a mistake.
A guilty plea brings the case closer to sentencing
Grimes was arrested and charged following the investigation. He initially pleaded not guilty before later admitting guilt to the two vehicular homicide counts and the additional criminal vehicular operation charge.
His guilty pleas mark a significant development in a case that began with the deaths of two people traveling to see loved ones.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 16, 2027. Until the court imposes a sentence, the final punishment remains undetermined.
The case has also brought attention to the responsibilities that come with operating large commercial vehicles. Professional drivers must manage heavy equipment, changing road conditions and traffic hazards while maintaining constant attention to the road.
Remembering Matthew and Cimberly Hansen
Beyond the criminal case, the crash left a family without two loved ones.
Matthew and Cimberly Hansen had built their lives in the Des Moines area of Iowa. Their obituary describes a couple who enjoyed traveling with their children, taking annual camping trips to destinations ranging from the Grand Canyon to Niagara Falls.
As their family grew, they continued making time for their four children and grandchildren. They also enjoyed traveling around the world.
Their journey to Minnesota in August 2023 was another family visit, but they never reached their destination.
The guilty plea provides a new chapter in the legal proceedings surrounding their deaths. For their family, however, the loss extends far beyond the courtroom.
The case serves as a reminder that a driver’s attention is essential every time a vehicle enters the road. In a construction zone, where traffic can slow dramatically within seconds, failing to recognize the danger ahead can have irreversible consequences.
