One Person Killed, Several Injured in DeKalb County Truck Accident

Ford F-150, Box Truck, Semi-Tanker, and Ford Excursion Involved in Deadly DeKalb County Collision Along Interstate 85 by Shallowford Road

DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA (May 15, 2026) – One person was killed and several people were injured in a DeKalb County semi-truck accident on Interstate 85 along Shallowford Road.

DeKalb County officials are saying that the accident took place around 2:11 AM on Sunday. A Ford F-150 was involved in a collision with a box truck, a semi-tanker, and a Ford Excursion.

One of the vehicles caught fire following the crash. Investigators suspect that the box truck was traveling too closely and rear-ended the F-150 from behind.

The driver of the box truck reportedly fled the scene of the collision on foot. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the accident site to help all of the victims.

Sadly, one person died due to the nature of their injuries. Multiple other people were transported to hospitals to receive treatment.

Liability for DeKalb County Car Accidents

Drivers across the state of Georgia must use caution and exercise due care to avoid colliding with other vehicles on the roadway. This necessitates that they travel at a safe speed and maintain a safe follow distance with other vehicles. According 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.” Truck companies should take several measures to prevent collisions.

• Truck companies should ensure that all of their vehicles are periodically inspected and well maintained.
• Truck companies should ensure their drivers are properly licensed and have a clean driving record.
• Truck companies should eliminate as many left turns as possible for the routes that their drivers take.
• Truck companies should consider utilizing technological safety features such as forward collision avoidance systems.

If a truck driver fails to slow down to avoid colliding with a vehicle ahead of them, this could serve as evidence of negligence. There is a presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that collides with the rear of a vehicle in their own lane of traffic. These types of accidents almost always involve drivers that are traveling too fast for the prevailing conditions or following the lead vehicle too closely. Liability for a truck accident could also extend to the company that owned or operated a truck.

Collecting Evidence After DeKalb County Truck Accidents

Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured every year in preventable truck accidents. According to one estimate by the NHTSA, “there were approximately 120,000 fatal and injury crashes nationwide during the 33-month study period that involved at least one large truck; 141,000 large trucks were involved in those crashes. Each of the 963 LTCCS study cases was assigned a sampling weight, which allows for national estimates of total fatal and injury truck crashes during the study period.” It is important that certain pieces of evidence are collected after any truck accident.

• Police Report: The police report created after the accident should be sought. This report contains an officer’s initial impressions of how an accident took place.
• Photographs: Lots of photos of the accident site should be taken and preserved. These photographs can help reveal what may have happened prior to a collision.
• Surveillance Footage: Any surveillance footage that may have captured the collision should be collected. Most intersections and many roads are covered by traffic cameras.
• Event Data Recorder: Most commercial trucks come equipped with an event data recorder. This device can help reveal how a truck was being used in the moments leading up to a crash.

Truck accidents are often highly complex events. The factors that contribute to any truck accident could take place many hours or even weeks prior to the actual event. These events could also involve liability for multiple parties. It is important that the victims of truck accidents understand that they do have rights. In particular, the family of any person who died in a truck accident was able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.

Investigating DeKalb County Truck Accidents

We at Butler Kahn extend our deepest condolences to the family of the person who died in this collision. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Several questions still need to be answered.

Have you or a loved one been harmed due to the negligent actions of a truck driver? You may have legal recourse. Our team of experienced truck accident investigators is here to help. We are committed to helping victims get the support and justice that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, 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