Man Killed in DeKalb County Semi-Truck Accident on Highway 78

Male Pedestrian Died in DeKalb County Tractor-Trailer Truck Accident After Truck Hit His Disabled Vehicle on Highway 78

DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA (September 29, 2026) – A man has tragically died in a DeKalb County semi-truck accident after being involved in a previous collision along Highway 78 eastbound.

The DeKalb County officials are saying that the collision occurred early Wednesday morning. A man initially lost control of his vehicle before hitting a guardrail and ultimately coming to a stop across multiple lanes of traffic.

A semi-truck traveling eastbound was not able to slow down in time and hit the pedestrian involved and his vehicle. First responders and paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim.

Sadly, that driver was pronounced dead at the scene due to the severe nature of his injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer remained at the scene of the crash and cooperated with police.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for DeKalb County Semi-Truck Accidents 

Georgia law requires that drivers exercise due care and travel at a reasonable speed at all times. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 40-6-180, “No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard for the actual and potential hazards then existing.” Commercial drivers are required to obtain a professional license and held to an even higher standard. They must keep a proper lookout of the road ahead of them and slow down to avoid any foreseeable collision. Courts will examine several pieces of evidence when assessing liability for any crash.

• They will consider the speed of the truck involved prior to the collision.
• They will review any evidence that the truck driver may have been fatigued or distracted.
• They will consider visibility conditions at the time of the crash.
• They may also review data from a truck’s event data recorder.

When a truck driver fails to slow down to avoid any collision, this could serve as evidence of negligence. Liability for a truck accident could extend beyond any specific truck driver determined to be at fault. Consider, for example, Jimenez v. Morgan Drive Away, Inc. The driver of a pickup truck was seriously injured after his disabled vehicle was hit by a tractor-trailer along the emergency shoulder of the highway. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the truck driver failed to slow down, even though he received a radio warning about the disabled vehicle prior to the collision.

What to Do After a DeKalb County Semi-Truck Accident

Commercial trucks can weigh 80,000 pounds and present a unique hazard to pedestrians and those in smaller vehicles. Among other things, pedestrians and passenger vehicles are more likely to be overlooked due to their small size. According to one study by the NHTSA, there were 188 people killed in collisions involving large trucks across Georgia in 2023 alone. It is important that several actions are taken after any collision involving a commercial truck in the state of Georgia.

• The police report created after the collision should be carefully reviewed. These reports can be enormously helpful, but they can also contain errors.
• Any surveillance footage that may have captured the collision should be collected and preserved as early as possible before it is lost or recorded over.
• Eyewitnesses should also be interviewed for any important insights that they may have.
• The family of any person who died in a collision with a truck driver should request an independent investigation by a team experienced in accident reconstruction.

Truck accidents tend to be highly preventable. They often involve truck drivers that are not properly scanning the road ahead of them. Part of the problem is that truck companies will often push their drivers to complete deliveries as quickly as possible. This can lead to the adoption of unsafe driving habits that jeopardize everyone on the road. Victims of truck accidents are protected by a number of laws. In particular, the surviving family members of anyone who died in a collision may be able to pursue some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.

Investigating Georgia Semi-Truck Accidents

We at Butler Kahn extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man killed in this DeKalb County semi-truck accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the Georgia State police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of the victim’s family. There are several important questions that still need to be addressed.

Have you or a loved one been harmed due to the negligent actions of a truck driver in Georgia? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of accident investigators is here to assist you. We are committed to helping people understand their rights and holding truck companies fully accountable for their misconduct. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at 678-940-1444.

Jeb ButlerState Bar: #116955

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, a $3,973,260 settlement after a boating accident, and a $1,250,000 settlement in a pedestrian case, 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