Columbia County, Georgia, recorded two fatalities following an I-20 traffic collision. The accident involving a pickup truck and an 18-wheeler happened on Tuesday, November 2nd. Driving under the influence of drugs appears to have caused the accident.
According to a news report, the Columbia County Sheriff deputies arrived at the crash scene on Interstate 20 Westbound at the 178-mile marker. The preliminary investigation revealed that a pickup truck rear-ended an 18-wheeler. The driver of the pickup truck, identified as James Henry Whitaker, 36, was reportedly under the influence of drugs.
The Columbia County Coroner’s Office said two people died in the crash. The coroner’s office did not release their names, but the report stated that one victim is from Florida and the second from North Carolina. The sheriff’s office booked Whitaker into the Columbia County Detention Center late Tuesday night.
The driver faces charges of homicide by vehicle, following too closely, driving while license revoked or suspended, and driving under the influence of drugs. Georgia State Patrol is heading the investigation into the I-20 traffic collision.
Under Georgia law, it is a crime to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drivers 21 years and above must drive with less than 0.08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Commercial drivers must keep their BAC below 0.04%. A driver who breaks this rule and causes an accident would be deemed the fault driver.
The law expects the impaired driver to compensate the crash victim for their injuries and other losses. Unfortunately, the compensation process is fraught with challenges, hence the need for an attorney.
At Calvin Smith Law, our Georgia car accident lawyers will help you get maximum compensation from the at-fault party. Contact us today.
Source: https://bit.ly/32hGBEN
