Fatal Irwin County Crash Involved a Semi Pulling a Trailer

On the morning of March 11, 2022, a fatal two-vehicle accident occurred in Irwin County. The accident took place at the intersection of Old Whitley Road and VoTech Drive, according to The Tifton Gazette.

One of the vehicles involved was a semi pulling a trailer. Georgia State Patrol advised that the driver of the semi failed to stop at the stop sign posted at that intersection, and drove into the intersection, where a car hit the side of the trailer being pulled by the semi. 

According to GSP, the driver of the car sustained fatal injuries as a result of this tragic accident.

Semi Trailer and Large Truck Safety Tips

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established as a part of the Department of Transportation (DOT) with a mission to help prevent accidents involving commercial motor vehicles. 

Driving a semi trailer or truck presents a number of safety challenges. Motor carrier safety is one of the FMCSA’s main objectives, and the Administration provides truck and bus drivers with a number of safety tips, including the following:

Be fully aware of your blind spots. Checking your blind spots is a must when driving a semi or truck. The FMCSA advises drivers to:

• Check mirrors frequently (every 8-10 seconds is the recommendation) 
• On interstates, scan a quarter-mile ahead every 15 seconds
• Scan one to two city blocks when driving in urban areas

Give your vehicle room to stop safely. Semi and truck drivers need to be aware of the long stopping distances that are necessary in order to stop their vehicles safely. The FMCSA recommends keeping a length of up to two football fields so stops can be made safely. 

Be careful when making turns. When turning, large trucks often need to make wide turns. In order to make such wide turns safely, drivers should always properly signal their turns, and make sure they have both enough space and enough time to make the turn safely. 

Do not speed. Because of their larger size, semis and trucks are more difficult to maneuver on the road. Drivers should always remain aware of the issues speeding can cause, such as:

• Difficulty coming to a quick stop when necessary
• Increased acceleration when driving on a downhill slope
• Problems maneuvering quickly to avoid unforeseen road dangers

Don’t drive distracted. Distracted driving poses a lot of danger for semi and truck drivers, and any vehicles that might be involved if the distraction results in an accident. Driving distracted includes:

• Texting while you’re driving
• Eating or drinking while driving
• Inputting your destination into GPS while driving

A Tifton Truck Accident Attorney is Here to Help

If you or a loved one have been involved in a motor vehicle accident involving a semi or large truck, you may be in need of legal assistance. Speak with a Tifton truck accident attorney at Hudson Injury Firm today to see how we can help.