Banks Crossing, GA — April 23, 2025, Humumed Ali was injured in a truck accident at about 6 a.m. on southbound Interstate 85.

Authorities said a Freightliner semi-truck was broken down on the side of the highway near exit 149 when it was hit from behind by another Freightliner. The crash spilled cherries from the second semi-truck across the road.

The driver of the parked semi, Ohio resident Humumed Ali, 48, was hospitalized with unspecified injuries after the crash, according to authorities.

The other driver was cited for failure to maintain his lane, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Banks County crash. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When one semi-truck crashes into the back of another that's parked on the shoulder, the key legal questions are whether the parked vehicle was visible, properly positioned and legally stopped, and whether the approaching driver had every reasonable opportunity to avoid the collision. On highways like I-85, where commercial traffic is heavy and speeds are high, there’s little room for error. But that’s exactly why the law places such a strong emphasis on proper conduct from both the stationary and moving driver.

In this case, the fact that the second driver was cited for failing to maintain his lane tells us that the investigation already points to a breakdown in basic vehicle control. For a professional driver, drifting onto the shoulder and hitting a stopped semi is a serious failure. Whether it was caused by distraction, fatigue or inattention, it shows that the driver wasn’t maintaining the level of awareness required of someone operating a fully loaded commercial vehicle at highway speeds.

That said, just because the driver of the moving truck is being cited doesn’t mean the parked truck’s position is irrelevant. A breakdown doesn’t excuse stopping in an unsafe location without taking the proper steps to warn others. Federal law requires commercial drivers who stop on the side of a highway to activate their hazard lights immediately and, within ten minutes, deploy reflective warning triangles. Investigators will need to confirm whether those steps were taken. If the broken-down truck was parked too close to the travel lane or failed to use warning equipment, that could affect how fault is ultimately assessed.

The time of the crash, 6 a.m., is another factor that can’t be ignored. Visibility may have been limited by low light or morning glare, which makes the proper use of hazard lights and reflective devices even more important. The shoulder of a highway is not a safe space under any conditions, and truck drivers know they are responsible for making themselves visible to oncoming traffic the moment they stop.

The spill of cargo also raises questions about securement and the aftermath of the collision, but those are secondary to the core issue: one commercial driver lost control and struck a vehicle that should have been avoided. Whether that was due to fatigue, distraction or simply poor lane discipline, it highlights how quickly a moment’s lapse in focus can lead to injury and chaos, even on a routine morning drive.

Ultimately, this crash underscores why safety in commercial trucking isn’t just about controlling your own vehicle. It’s about anticipating the presence of others, especially when the unexpected happens. And when a commercial driver fails to do that, the consequences can be severe, not just for themselves, but for others who had no way to protect themselves from the mistake.