In Newnan, Georgia today, two right lanes remain blocked on I-85 northbound, about two miles south of the Peachtree City exit, due to an overturned truck. Police report that the truck and four other vehicles were involved in the accident at the Fulton and Coweta county line.

The truck was carrying paint. Police, emergency workers and fire crews are on the scene.

COMMENT:  Among the standard investigative and reconstruction efforts, authorities will likely investigate the truck’s load procedure and securement protocol.  Often times when liquids are transported, load shift from some maneuvers can lead to loss of stability.

On Interstate 20, near the Appling-Harlem Exit, a Speeding Chevrolet Blazer lost control and flipped three times.  The blazer was travelling approximately 89 mph.  The occupants of the blazer, Regina Wilson (driver), Alicia Harris, 42 and Kamoree Cooper were taken to the Medical College of Georgia.

As traffic backed up, a logging truck driven by Sarah Bufford did not see the traffic backed up and struck a Chevrolet S-10, the S-10 caught on fire, seriously injuring the occupant, Joyce Sheppard, 68.

Sarah Bufford, or Bufford Jr. Hauling out of Tignall, Georgia, apparently did not see the backed up traffic due to another tractor trailer blocking her view.

The driver of the first Collision will also face charges of speeding, failure to maintain lane and failure to meet tire requirements,

FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY: OCGA § 40-6-49, states in pertinent part:

(a) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.

While rear striking drivers are not always at fault, if they are not able to slow or stop their vehicles in time, there is a strong presumption that they were following too closely.  Logging trucks in particular, may have issues with their brakes or other maintenance issues that could be a factor.  One reason is logging truck are only required to maintain fairly low insurance coverage because they are hauling an “exempt commodity” (raw agricultural products).  Because of the relatively low required coverage, it is possible that their liability insurer does not perform safety audits that might help insure a safe fleet.

Another factor that affects logging trucks is that they often have to drive off road to get the loaded trailers of logs.  Those driving conditions are hard on the tractor-trailer and may raise some maintenance concerns.

It is possible that the driver of the first wreck as well as the driver of the logging truck will face some serious questions about their involvement with this serious injury.

 Story:  http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/110905/met_5646595.shtmlhttp://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/110905/met_5646595.shtml

Three people were killed and two were injured in a two car collision Early Tuesday morning night in Winder Georgia.  The collision occurred on a two lane road. Winder Police Accident Investigation Team determined that the wreck happened after 1 a.m.A witness indicated that one car passed his tractor trailer, across a double yellow line and hit oncoming traffic.

Levi Brooks, age 18 is believed to be the driver of the Dodge Neon that crossed into opposing traffic.  Derrick Banks, 21, despite rescue efforts, did not survive.  Brooks; however did survive and was taken to an area hospital.

Gerald Whitlow who also survived, was in the rear seat of the Grand Marquis that was struck. Wilber F. Taylor and his wife, Dorothy Jean Pike Taylor, were in the front of the Grand Marquis and are believed to have been on their way home from a church event.

CROSSING A DOUBLE YELLOW LINE:  O.C.G.A. § 40-6-48

It is not permissible to pass on a double yellow line, with few exceptions.  Here the driver of the Dodge Neon was attempting to pass a tractor trailer that would require a considerable distance to be done safely, even if against the statute.

“A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety”; See http://web.lexis-nexis.com/research/retrieve?_m=4ff544445a58fca12045e20caa9ea0ea&csvc=lt&cform=byCitation&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVzz-zSkAB&_md5=95c63cbd0ff81784e2cd3893bdf4e593

OVERTAKING A VEHICLE ON LEFT: OCGA § 40-6-43, states in pertinent part:

(1)  The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle; and

(2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle and shall not increase the speed of his vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.  See http://web.lexis-nexis.com/research/retrieve?_m=e76387b4655a89168e7893159f659b4d&csvc=lt&cform=byCitation&_fmtstr=FULL&docnum=1&_startdoc=1&wchp=dGLbVzb-zSkAW&_md5=7bf91d47792272131b4b04a856d8bedc

YOUNG DRIVERS:  Inexperience may have been a factor in this tragedy.  While some young drivers may take offense to this conclusion, it is not necessarily the driver’s youth, but simply a lack of driving experience.  Young drivers and their parents should look into taking advantage of driver simulators in order to better their driving skills.

 Story:  http://www.wsbtv.com/news/16251357/detail.htmlhttp://www.wsbtv.com/news/16251357/detail.html

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