Bryant Freedle Killed, 1 Injured in 18-wheeler Accident in Cross Plains, TN
Robertson County, TN — April 18, 2023, Bryant Freedle was killed and one person was injured after an accident where an 18-wheeler crashed into a line of traffic.
Officials said that the crash took place at around 2:00 p.m. between the exits for Cross Plains and Portland on northbound lanes of I-65.
Details say that 28-year-old Bryant Freedle was in a pickup in a line of traffic behind an 18-wheeler. Another 18-wheeler was apparently slowing behind Freedle when a third failed to slow down in time and hit the second truck. This pushed the second 18-wheeler into Freedle's pickup, in turn pushing it into the first 18-wheeler ahead of Freedle.
As a result of the collision, Freedle sustained fatal injuries. The driver of the third 18-wheeler apparently had minor injuries. It's unclear if anyone else was hurt.
Details suggest that the third truck driver that hit the line of traffic may be facing charges. One of the other truck drivers may also face charges, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Additional details are unavailable at this time.
The fact an 18-wheeler slammed into slowed traffic is concerning enough on its own. Police potentially filing charges here only makes the red flags that much more glaring. What could those charges be for? While I'm experienced enough to know not to jump to conclusions after a deadly truck wreck, I also know that most crashes like this come down to a driver not paying attention to the road. Could the pending charges relate to something like that?
As simple as it may seem to look into such possibilities, it's important to understand what all can go into a proper investigation. Was the driver on their phone? When did they apply their brakes? How fast were they going? Were they distracted by their dispatch or employer? Are they experienced? Properly trained? Do they have a history of serious accidents? What condition was their vehicle in? Did something unusual like a manufacturing defect lead to the crash without the driver being able to avoid it?
Likely or not, a proper accident reconstruction is going to consider all kinds of possible factors. Simply put, a grieving family needs to be sure they're getting the full story. They have enough to worry about that they shouldn't also have to worry about whether or not they're missing something important, let alone whether or not those responsible for their hardships are facing appropriate consequences. It remains to be seen if authorities are taking necessary steps here to find out what went wrong here and who all is responsible.
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