I-20 wreck near Appling-Harlem, chain reaction made much worse by logging truck following too closely
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.
