Kyle Holladay Killed In Rome Semi-Truck Accident On U.S. 27

Jeb Butler | | Truck Accident

Truck AccidentSemi-Truck Driver Arrested After Fatal Rome Car Accident That Killed Motorcyclist Kyle Holladay By Armuchee High School

ROME, GEORGIA (September 27, 2023) – A motorcyclist identified as Kyle Holladay has tragically died in a Rome semi-truck accident along U.S. 27 not  far from Armuchee High School.

Floyd County officials are saying that the crash took place around 6:45 a.m. on Monday. Kyle Holladay was riding a motorcycle when he was struck by a semi-truck that was following too closely. 

That truck driver struck the victim and then left the scene of the collision. Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision near Armuchee High School in order to help the victim.

Despite life-saving measures, Kyle Holladay later died due to his injuries. The 46-year-old truck driver involved in the collision has been located and charged with vehicular homicide. 

A full investigation into the crash remains ongoing at this time. 

Liability For Rome Semi-Truck Accidents

Motorcyclists account for a relatively small number of the drivers on the roadway, but they are involved in a disproportionate number of fatal collisions. Certain parts of the year tend to be more dangerous for motorcyclists. According to Forbes, “Motorcycle accident statistics show the risk of a crash is not uniform year round. In fact, August is the most dangerous month for motorcyclists, with 14% of all fatal motorcycle crashes occurring over this month. By contrast, just 3% of fatal motorcycle crashes happened in January–the safest month.” There are a number of reasons that semi-trucks can be particularly dangerous for motorcyclists. 

  • Semi-trucks have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of motorcyclists and smaller vehicles. 
  • Semi-trucks have a wide turning radius that can make side-impact collisions more likely. 
  • Semi-trucks can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs and can take the length of two football fields to come to a stop. 

Semi-truck drivers must get a commercial license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. All truck drivers must exercise a great deal of care to avoid hitting other vehicles. Pursuant to GA Code § 40-6-49, “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.” There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that rear-ends another vehicle in their own lane of traffic. 

Depending on the facts of any case, the company that a truck driver worked for could also be liable for a truck accident. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. However, many truck companies will try to evade liability for crashes by hiring their drivers as “independent contractors.” Many steps should be taken after any truck accident. 

  •  The employment status of the truck driver should be determined. 
  • The work records of the truck driver before the crash should be reviewed. 
  • The truck’s event data recorder should be examined. 
  • Photos of the accident site should be taken. 
  • A thorough investigation should be conducted. 

The vast majority of truck accidents are preventable and involve some amount of driver error. In particular, truck drivers are much more likely to be involved in crashes when they are fatigued. It is common for truck companies to push their drivers to complete their deliveries on unrealistic time schedules. The family of any person that died in a semi-truck accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. 

Investigating Rome Semi-Truck Accidents

We at The Butler Kahn Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Kyle Holladay. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to Floyd County police officials. 

Do you need more information about a Floyd County semi-truck accident? Our team of motorcycle safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 678-940-1444. 

Jeb Butler

Jeb Butler’s career as a Georgia trial lawyer has led to a $150 million verdict in a product liability case against Chrysler for a dangerous vehicle design that caused the death of a child, a $45 million settlement for a young man who permanently lost the ability to walk and talk, and numerous other verdicts and settlements, many of which are confidential at the defendant’s insistence. Jeb has worked on several cases that led to systemic changes and improvements in public safety. He has been repeatedly recognized as a Georgia SuperLawyer and ranks among Georgia’s legal elite. Jeb graduated in the top 10% of his class at UGA Law, argued on the National Moot Court team, and published in the Law Review. He is the founding partner of Butler Kahn law firm. Connect with me on LinkedIn