Vehicle Crash in Richmond Hill Involves Freightliner Box Truck and Traffic-Control Vehicle

On Monday morning, a major accident involving a Freightliner box truck and a Ford traffic-control truck killed two construction workers in Bryan County.

All northbound lanes on I-95 near Exit 87 in Richmond Hill were closed for several hours. A southbound lane was also temporarily blocked. According to WTOC, all lanes had reopened by about 11 a.m. Early reports stated that “WTOC crews on the scene saw an Amazon tractor trailer and road work vehicle involved in the crash.” Details are still emerging about the cause of the collision and the trucks involved.

What we know about the I-95 crash

The crash occurred Monday, September 14, near U.S. 17/Ocean Highway in Richmond Hill. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) traffic map indicated that the incident began around 6:35 a.m.

According to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the collision involved a Freightliner box truck and a Ford traffic-control truck. GSP said its preliminary investigation found that the box truck failed to maintain its lane, crossed onto the right shoulder and struck the Ford. The impact pushed the Ford across three lanes of traffic, over a guardrail and into the grass median. Two workers were outside the Ford picking up traffic-control equipment when the crash happened. GSP said responding officers found both workers dead in the roadway.

The driver of the box truck was released from the scene pending further investigation.

GDOT reported that all northbound lanes of I-95 were blocked before Ocean Highway, with traffic diverted at Exit 82. A portion of the southbound left lane near mile marker 86 was also temporarily closed.

The investigation remains ongoing.

A commercial truck crash can raise complicated questions

When a commercial truck is involved in a fatal highway crash, determining what happened often requires more than looking at the vehicles after the collision.

Investigators may need to examine the truck driver’s actions, the condition of the vehicle, electronic data from the truck and any available video footage. Depending on the circumstances, driver logs, maintenance records, dispatch information and company safety records may also become important.

A traffic-control vehicle could add another layer to the investigation. Investigators may need to determine where the vehicle and workers were positioned, what work was taking place and whether traffic-control measures or warning devices played any role in the events leading up to the crash.

Who may be responsible after a commercial truck crash?

Truck accident cases in Georgia can be more complicated than ordinary passenger-vehicle crashes because several parties may be involved. Potential responsible parties could include:

• A truck driver
• The driver’s employer
• The motor carrier operating the vehicle
• A maintenance provider
• Another party whose negligence contributed to the collision

Evidence matters after a serious truck crash

Important evidence in a commercial trucking case may exist only for a limited time. Electronic logging devices can contain information about a driver’s hours behind the wheel. Engine-control and telematics systems may provide information about speed, braking or other vehicle activity. Dash cameras, nearby traffic cameras and roadway surveillance footage may also help investigators reconstruct what happened.

Maintenance and inspection records can show whether the truck had problems before the crash, and employment records can determine whether the driver was properly supervised and qualified to drive the vehicle.

When a fatal crash involves multiple vehicles, companies or contractors, it can be especially important to preserve that evidence early.

Harris Lowry Manton investigates serious truck crashes throughout Georgia

A fatal interstate collision can leave families searching for answers long after the roadway has reopened. The Savannah truck accident attorneys at Harris Lowry Manton LLP have experience investigating complex commercial vehicle crashes and identifying the individuals and companies that may be responsible.

If you have lost a loved one or been seriously injured in a commercial truck crash in Richmond Hill, Savannah or anywhere else in Georgia, contact Harris Lowry Manton LLP to discuss your legal options. We’re here to help you.