One Injured in Fiery 18-Wheeler Accident on I-85 in Barrow County, GA
Barrow County, GA — January 11, 2023, at least one person was seriously injured in a fiery 18-wheeler accident on Interstate 85 in Barrow County.
Authorities say the incident happened late Wednesday night along I-85 at exit 126. Preliminary investigation suggests only that a tractor-trailer collided with two cars trying to exit the highway, after which it ran off the road to the right and hit an overhead sign. It then caught fire.
The truck driver was airlifted from the scene to an area hospital for treatment of serious burn injuries. No other injuries were reported.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information is currently available.
Truck drivers have one of the hardest jobs out there--so difficult that it requires special training and licensure, and even with those it takes diligence and care to make it through the day safely. That's why when a trucker is hurt in an accident, the first question is never "What did they do?" but simply "How did this happen?"
All the news can say so far is that a big rig and two cars collided near a highway exit, but there's very little context for that. It's up to investigators to figure out the timeline and to look carefully for any and all factors which might have contributed. Did a driver just make a momentary but costly mistake? Did someone's vehicle malfunction or blow a tire? Were the truck and cars in good shape? Was everyone awake, alert, and focused on the road? Did someone have a medical emergency? Why exactly did the truck catch fire after hitting the sign?
The point of all those questions and the many others like them isn't to complicate things or find a "bad guy." Investigators just need to learn the whole story, supported by evidence, because inevitably there are people out there who need and deserve it. That truck driver's family should know exactly how and why their loved one ended up hospitalized, so I hope authorities will get them some real answers.
