Candler County, GA (May 30, 2025) — A tractor-trailer driver was killed Friday morning when his vehicle struck the rear of another big rig that was merging into traffic along westbound Interstate 16 near mile marker 101, according to Georgia State Patrol.
Incident Details: The crash occurred around 9:15 a.m. on I-16 westbound. According to state troopers from Post 45, one tractor-trailer had been parked in the right emergency lane and attempted to merge into the right travel lane when it was rear-ended by another tractor-trailer traveling west. The driver of the moving vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The other truck driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The wreck forced the closure of all westbound lanes from the time of the crash until approximately 4 p.m. Cleanup and rerouting caused significant delays throughout the day. Both 18-wheelers were reportedly carrying loaded cargo at the time of the collision.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: The Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT-F) with the Georgia State Patrol is investigating the crash. Key questions will center around whether the driver merging into traffic followed proper safety protocols and checked for approaching vehicles before re-entering the lane. Investigators will likely analyze physical evidence such as skid marks, impact angles, dash camera footage, and onboard electronic data recorders.
Depending on the findings of the investigation, the family of the deceased driver may have grounds for a wrongful death claim to help with funeral costs, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship.
My condolences go out to the family of the driver who lost his life.
Source: WJCL