Randolph Gibbs Killed in Three-Vehicle Accident on SH 32 in Irwin County, GA
Irwin County, GA — January 8, 2023, 38-year-old Randolph Gibbs died in a three-vehicle accident involving a semi-truck on State Route 32 in Irwin County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 9:20 a.m. on Route 32. Preliminary investigation suggests the driver of a Ford Fusion attempted to leave a store parking lot and cross through the highway's lanes. Investigators allege the Ford driver failed to yield to an eastbound Volvo semi-truck and the two collided, after which the semi entered the westbound lane and hit Gibbs' Ford F-350 pickup.
Gibbs was fatally injured in the crash. It's unclear if anyone else was hurt.
The accident remains under investigation. No further information is currently available.
Folks may think after reading the news that this was just a simple matter of failure to yield, and I'm not arguing otherwise. However, I know form long experience that few accidents are really that cut-and-dried, and it's always important to look at their full context and be sure all their factors are accounted for.
In Irwin County, for example, it seems like there are plenty of questions that still need answers. If the Ford driver failed to yield as alleged, why? Did they simply not check for cross-traffic, or did something block their view of the approaching big rig? Was the Ford in good repair, with no known problems or defects? How fast was the truck traveling on the highway? Were both drivers awake, alert, and watching their surroundings?
That's only a handful of the many details to clarify. They might not even change the narrative very much from the version in the news, but a man lost his life here and I feel that merits every possible effort to get the whole and accurate story. I just hope authorities are doing everything they can to get answers for the folks who need them.
