Overturned semi truck in Thomas County caused by drowsy driver

August 15, 2018

THOMAS COUNTY, Ga. (WCTV) -- Investigators believe drowsy driving is to blame for a semi truck crash in Thomas County on Wednesday morning.

The wreck stopped traffic for more than two hours during morning rush hour. Georgia State Patrol says it happened on U.S. Highway 19, just before 7:00 a.m.

The driver for ACC Distributors had just left a stop in Albany.

"When officers first arrived, he admitted that he fell asleep," says CFC Grey Shiver, a responding trooper.

The truck driver's moment of fatigue caused his loaded trailer to overturn.

"From time to time, there are accidents on this roadway because of the amount of people that travel up and down," says Shiver.

Fortunately, this time, only one vehicle was involved and no one was hurt.

"Most of your single-vehicle wrecks, the drivers are fatigued or distracted, which we're having a problem with now," says Shiver.

In the wake of the accident, GSP is reminding drivers to stay awake, alert and alive.

According to GDOT reports, more than 1,500 people died on Georgia roadways in 2017, with an average of four deaths per day. It says 70 percent of those were caused by unsafe driving behavior.

August 15, 2018

THOMAS COUNTY, Ga. (WCTV) -- An overturned semi truck snarled traffic for more than two hours Wednesday morning in Thomas County.

The crash happened around 7:00 a.m. on US-19 southbound near State Road 188, just east of Ochlocknee.

Crews have uprighted the overturned truck and towed it away. US-19 southbound was temporarily blocked in the area but has since reopened.

Authorities say drowsy driving is to blame for the crash, adding that the truck driver admitted to officers that he fell asleep.