Truck Accidents 360 Newswire

DECATUR COUNTY, GA – A motorist from Climax, Georgia was killed in Decatur County, GA on Monday, February 6, 2012 when his car struck a semi truck that was blocking both directions of traffic.

Decatur County is located in the southwestern corner of the state of Georgia. The accident occurred in an unincorporated part of the county on Georgia 262 about 257 miles southwest of Savannah, 165 miles southwest of Warner Robins and 81 miles southwest of Valdosta. Climax, GA is about 13 miles northwest of the accident site.

The accident occurred around 5:45 a.m. early Monday morning when the big rig, traveling northbound on Georgia 262, missed its turnoff for its destination at a mining company, the Active Minerals International LLC’s Attapulgite Division.

The 18 wheeler was pulling was a 3 hopper gravity flow sand trailer used for the transport of dry bulk material such as those found in the mining industry. The tractor trailer, owned by BH Transfer Company from Sandersville, GA, was heading for the mine off Georgia 362 about two miles north of the intersection of U.S. 27.

The big rig driver, Larry Darnell Peterson, 57 years old from Quincy, FL, drove further up the road into a paved turnaround area about 2.7 miles north of the intersection of U.S. 27. He wanted to turnaround and go back the other direction to the mine gate. He attempted to back up the 18 wheeler when it became stuck in the mud, leaving the trailer blocking both directions of traffic.

Killed at the scene was motorist Russell Andrews, 42 years old from Climax. Andrews was traveling southbound on Georgia 362, who apparently did not see that the semi trailer was blocking both lanes of the roadway. Police believe this was evident due to the lack of any skid marks.

An article in the Post-Searchlight website reported on the story. Georgia State Trooper First Class Brian Palmer commented on the events:

“Peterson had passed the mine’s gate and was attempting to back into a paved turn-around just north of the mine when the truck’s wheels became stuck in mud, TFC Palmer said. The truck’s cab was facing north off the highway’s eastern shoulder, while its trailer stretched back across both of the highway’s lanes.

Meanwhile, Andrews was headed south in a 1990 Buick LeSabre. He simultaneously topped a hill rise and rounded a curve, about a quarter mile north of where the semi truck was …”

There are no details as to whether or not it was dark or hard to see the semi trailer sitting diagonally across the highway but the side of the trailer was equipped with a number of reflectors plus an amber lamp.

According to the article the trucker “tried to get Andrews’ attention by waving his arms out of the window, yelling and flashing the truck’s headlights.” The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) believed that the victim did not realize that the truck was blocking both lanes until it was too late.

The Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) from the GSP was called in to investigate the crash to take precise measurements for a computer model of the accident. The SCRT only becomes involved when there is the possibility of a criminal prosecution and makes a detailed report that takes into account the roadway and weather conditions.

The accident is currently under investigation. There are no other details at this time as to whether or not any charges will be filed, but that will be determined by the District Attorney after reviewing the SCRT report.

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Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident lawyer news blog that reports on up to date truck accidents, bus accidents, truck accident attorneys and legal news across the United States. Find out more information about Georgia truck accident lawyers.

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