Georgia driving laws indicate that an improper lane change can happen when a driver fails to signal the lane change for an adequate time before making the lane change or the driver fails to make sure that the lane they are moving into is clear. While this can normally just result in a minor traffic violation, improper lane changes on the highways and interstates at those speeds can be deadly. The Times Free Press reports on a deadly accident that claimed two lives when a box truck failed to change lanes properly.
Two people were killed in a fatal accident near Dalton, Georgia on July 19th.
The accident occurred on Interstate 75 and closed the interstate in both directions for a time.
The driver of a single unit truck improperly changed lanes and struck a tractor-trailer. The accident caused the truck to spin counter-clockwise into the left lane, where it struck a pickup truck. Both trucks ended up in the median.
The single unit truck overturned and came to an uncontrolled stop on top of the guardrail. The pickup truck landed on top of the single unit truck.
Of the five passengers in the single unit truck, one was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Two of the other passengers were taken to the hospital in Dalton, Georgia. Two other passengers sustained injuries serious enough to require Life Force flight to Ehrlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
One of the passengers who was taken to Ehrlanger later died of their injuries.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured. The driver of the pickup truck was injured but was not taken to a hospital.
Charges are pending the outcome of the accident investigation.
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