Hinesville, GA — April 14, 2025, three people were injured in a truck accident at about 12:30 p.m. in a parking lot off U.S. Route 84/East Oglethorpe Highway.

Authorities said a utility truck crashed into parked vehicle and hit a restaurant after a tire blew as it was pulling into the parking lot near Tranquil Way.

Two restaurant patrons were injured in the crash, while a passenger in the truck was hit in the head by a ladder that crashed through the back window, according to authorities. All three were transported to a local hospital after the crash.

The utility truck driver was cited for traveling with an unsecured load, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Anytime a commercial vehicle ends up inside a building, it’s a strong signal that something went wrong long before the moment of impact. In this case, the crash began with a blown tire and ended with a utility truck striking parked cars and injuring multiple people, including a passenger hit by a ladder that wasn't properly secured. From a legal standpoint, what stands out most isn’t just the mechanical failure, but the decisions made by the driver and the company responsible for the vehicle and its equipment.

The citation for traveling with an unsecured load speaks volumes. In my experience, unsecured equipment inside or on a work truck is one of the most overlooked risks in commercial operations. Ladders, tools and other gear, when not properly fastened, can turn into deadly projectiles the moment something goes wrong. It doesn’t take a high-speed crash for that risk to materialize; a sudden stop, swerve or blowout can be enough to send a loose object through a cab or into bystanders.

That’s why proper load securement isn’t optional. It’s part of a commercial driver’s daily responsibilities. Before the truck ever left the yard, someone should have verified that the equipment on board was restrained in a way that complies with both common sense and established safety standards. When that step is skipped, it’s not just careless: it’s dangerous.

Then there’s the blown tire. Mechanical failures happen, but that doesn’t mean they’re unforeseeable. Investigators will need to examine whether the tire failure was truly unpredictable or if it resulted from worn tread, improper inflation or a failure to inspect the vehicle. Commercial drivers are required to perform pre-trip inspections for a reason. If those procedures were ignored or rushed, and a tire blew as a result, then that breakdown in protocol directly contributed to the harm that followed.

This wasn’t just a matter of bad luck: it was a chain of events that began with avoidable oversights. And when those oversights send a utility truck crashing into a restaurant, injuring patrons and even its own crew, it becomes clear that the risks weren’t taken seriously enough. That’s where accountability comes in.

Because in commercial vehicle operations, safety isn’t just about driving: it’s about preparation. And when a vehicle enters a public space like a parking lot with equipment flying loose and critical components failing, the result isn’t just a crash. It’s a failure of responsibility. One that hurt people who had no way of seeing it coming.