A truck driver from Tennessee has entered a guilty plea following a tragic collision that resulted in the deaths of a married couple on a Minnesota highway. The incident, which occurred in August 2023, has raised serious concerns about distracted driving due to allegations that the driver was streaming a Netflix show at the time of the accident.
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Billie Joe Grimes, 57, was behind the wheel on Interstate 35 near Faribault when he allegedly collided with two vehicles, leading to the fatalities of Matthew Henry Hansen, 57, and his wife Cimberly Ellen Hansen, aged 56, both residents of Urbandale, Iowa.
According to a report from the Rice County Attorney’s Office, Grimes was reportedly distracted by his phone while driving. Investigators noted that he had passed several warning signs about roadwork ahead, which indicated that drivers should reduce their speed and prepare to merge. This negligence has been a point of focus in the subsequent investigation.
In his account to the authorities, Grimes expressed his struggle to react in time, stating that he had “just a split second” to respond. He described the situation as one where he could not halt the vehicle, which he claimed was heavily loaded. The complaint reveals that he was travelling with his cruise control set between 66 and 67 mph as traffic ahead had slowed or stopped approximately ten seconds prior to the crash.
Conclusive evidence gathered from dashcam footage revealed that Grimes was indeed streaming an episode of ‘Rust Valley Restorers’ from Netflix during the fatal moments leading to the collision. Though he initially reported that his phone was downloading episodes for later viewing, investigators discovered that the contents downloaded did not include the series he mentioned.
Following the collision, Grimes faced multiple charges, including two counts of criminal vehicular homicide. Initially, he had pleaded not guilty to these charges in November 2025, but in a turn of events, he agreed to change his plea to guilty by October 26 of this year.
The devastating impact of this incident has highlighted the dangers associated with distracted driving, particularly in commercial vehicle operation. With the rise of digital technology, the prevalence of such distractions has become a significant public safety concern.
Sentencing for Grimes is scheduled for March 16, 2027, as the consequences of his actions continue to resonate within the community and impact the families affected by this tragedy.
As investigations into the broader implications of distracted driving proceed, the case serves as a stark reminder of the hazards posed by using mobile devices while on the road, emphasising the need for increased vigilance among drivers to prevent future occurrences.