Monroe County, GA — February 9, 2026, Tomiyia Smith was killed and a child was injured in a truck accident just before 7 p.m. on Interstate 75.
Authorities said a northbound Volkswagen Tiguan crashed into a flatbed truck parked on the side of the road near mile marker 188.
Volkswagen driver Tomiyia Jean Smith, 47, of Mount Sterlin, OH was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities, while her 9-year-old son was hospitalized with critical injuries.
The mechanic who was working on the truck at the time of the crash near Forsyth was not injured, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Monroe County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people read about a crash like this, the first questions are simple and reasonable: Why was a large truck parked on the side of an interstate? Was it visible? And what information is still missing that could explain how this happened? Right now, the official account leaves many of those questions unanswered.
What we know is that a passenger vehicle struck a flatbed truck that was parked on the shoulder of Interstate 75. A mechanic was reportedly working on the truck at the time. What we don’t yet know is why the truck was stopped there, how long it had been there or what warning measures were in place for approaching drivers. Those details matter.
Whenever a commercial truck is disabled or parked on the shoulder of a high-speed roadway, there are clear expectations about visibility and warning. It’s not clear whether reflective triangles were placed far enough behind the truck, whether hazard lights were operating or whether lighting conditions at that time of day affected what an approaching driver could see. Depending on whether traffic was heavy, light was fading or sightlines were limited, the risk profile changes significantly.
Another unanswered question is what led the passenger vehicle to leave its lane of travel. We don’t yet know if the driver was reacting to traffic, debris, another vehicle or something else entirely. This is where physical evidence becomes critical. Skid marks, vehicle damage patterns and the final resting positions can help explain whether there was evasive action or sudden braking.
From the truck’s side, records matter just as much as the scene itself. Maintenance logs can show whether this was an unexpected breakdown or a recurring mechanical issue. If the truck was equipped with an engine control module or telematics, that information can establish when it stopped, how long it had been stationary and whether hazard systems were activated. Dash cameras — either on the truck or nearby vehicles — may also clarify visibility and traffic conditions in the moments before impact.
I’ve handled cases where early reports made an incident sound straightforward, only for later evidence to show that critical safety steps were missed during roadside repairs. That’s why it’s important not to jump to conclusions based on a short initial statement. Accountability depends on reconstructing the full timeline, not just identifying where the vehicles ended up.
At this stage, authorities say the crash remains under investigation. That’s appropriate, because the most important questions haven’t been answered yet. Until they are, no one can honestly say how or why this collision occurred.
Key Takeaways
- When a truck is parked on an interstate shoulder, visibility and warning measures are central issues.
- It’s not yet clear why the passenger vehicle left its lane or what conditions existed at the time.
- Evidence like maintenance records, hazard light status and scene measurements can change how responsibility is assessed.
- Early reports rarely tell the full story; meaningful answers come from a thorough, independent investigation.
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