Florida Man Killed by Tractor-Trailer After Fiery I-75 Crash in Crisp County

A 31-year-old Florida man died after being struck by a tractor-trailer following an earlier fiery crash on Interstate 75 in Crisp County, Georgia, according to the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities identified the victim as Brandon Hand of Boynton Beach, Florida. Investigators are treating the events as two separate crashes.

What We Know About the I-75 Crashes

According to the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began early Saturday morning when one vehicle rear-ended another on I-75.

Following the initial collision, one of the vehicles left the roadway, struck a fence and a tree, and caught fire.

Occupants of the other vehicle reportedly saw the driver of the burning car get out and begin running northbound along the interstate.

Authorities responded to the crash and began searching for the missing driver.

During that search, the driver of a tractor-trailer stopped and told deputies that he believed his truck had struck something on the interstate.

Investigators later located Hand approximately 50 yards from the scene of the original crash.

Investigators Believe Victim Was Standing in Travel Lane

According to the sheriff’s office, investigators believe Hand initially told the occupants of the other vehicle that he was searching for items inside his car.

Authorities believe Hand subsequently entered or stood in the right travel lane of I-75, where he was struck by the tractor-trailer.

Hand was transported to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia, where he later died from his injuries.

The Crisp County Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating the initial fiery collision and the subsequent pedestrian collision as two separate accidents.

Interstate Pedestrian Crashes Are Often Fatal

Pedestrian crashes on interstate highways can be particularly devastating because vehicles are typically traveling at highway speeds and drivers may have very little time to react to a person in the roadway.

When a crash or vehicle fire forces someone out of a vehicle on an interstate, the surrounding traffic can create an additional danger. Darkness, visibility, traffic volume and the location of disabled vehicles may further affect a driver’s ability to recognize and avoid a pedestrian.

Investigators may examine these circumstances when determining precisely how the second collision occurred.

What Investigators May Examine

Because this incident involved two separate crashes occurring within a short period, investigators may need to reconstruct both events and determine whether they were connected beyond involving the same driver.

Evidence could include:

• Physical evidence from both crash scenes
• Damage to the vehicles and tractor-trailer
• Statements from the occupants of the other vehicle
• The tractor-trailer driver’s statement
• Dash camera or surveillance footage
• Vehicle speeds and braking information
• Electronic data from the vehicles
• Lighting and visibility conditions
• The location where Hand was struck
• The circumstances that caused the initial rear-end collision

Investigators may also examine why Hand left the immediate area of the first crash and how he came to be in the interstate’s right travel lane.

Tractor-Trailer Crashes Require Careful Investigation

When a commercial tractor-trailer is involved in a fatal collision, additional evidence may be available that can help reconstruct the accident.

Depending on the circumstances, investigators may review the truck’s electronic logging and vehicle data, dash camera footage, inspection and maintenance records, and information regarding the driver’s actions before impact.

However, the currently available information does not indicate that the tractor-trailer driver committed any wrongdoing. The driver reportedly stopped and informed deputies that he believed the truck had struck something.

Determining Liability After Multiple Connected Crashes

Cases involving successive collisions can raise complicated questions about causation and legal responsibility.

Investigators may need to determine whether negligence contributed to the original rear-end crash, whether that collision created circumstances leading to the subsequent pedestrian accident, and whether either driver involved in the second collision could reasonably have avoided the impact.

The fact that authorities are treating the events as two separate accidents does not by itself determine civil liability.

A complete investigation is necessary before responsibility can be assigned to any person or company.

Potential Wrongful Death Claims After an Interstate Crash

When a fatal accident is caused by another party’s negligence, surviving family members may potentially have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim.

Because this crash occurred in Georgia but involved a Florida resident, determining which laws apply to potential claims may require careful legal analysis.

Potential damages in a wrongful death case can depend on the applicable law, the circumstances of the death and the relationship between the victim and surviving family members.

At this stage, the publicly available information does not establish that another party was legally responsible for Hand’s death.

Preserving Evidence Following a Fatal Commercial Vehicle Crash

Evidence can be especially important when a fatal collision involves a tractor-trailer.

Electronic vehicle information, dash camera recordings and trucking company records may not necessarily be retained indefinitely. Physical roadway evidence can also disappear quickly once an interstate reopens.

Prompt preservation of available evidence can help investigators reconstruct the sequence of events and determine whether any person or entity’s negligence contributed to the death.

Investigation Into Fatal Crisp County Crashes Continues

The Crisp County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding both crashes.

Authorities say the incident began with a rear-end collision that caused Hand’s vehicle to leave the roadway, strike a fence and tree, and catch fire. Hand exited the vehicle and was later struck by a tractor-trailer approximately 50 yards from the original crash scene.

The 31-year-old Boynton Beach man was transported to a hospital in Albany, where he later died. We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of Brandon Hand as they cope with this tragic loss.