Update (August 18, 2025): The driver who allegedly hit Terrell Loudermilk has been charged with homicide by vehicle and felony hit and run. He turned himself in to authorities after the crash.

Marietta, GA — August 13, 2025, Terrell Loudermilk was killed in a hit-and-run accident at about 2:30 a.m. on northbound Interstate 75.

Authorities said two semi-trucks were involved in a minor collision near South Marietta Parkway before one of the drivers was hit by a passing vehicle as he stepped out of his truck. The other vehicle did not stop after the collision.

Truck driver Terrell Loudermilk, 36, died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

Authorities are searching for the vehicle that hit the Chattanooga, TN resident. It is believed to be a Chevrolet Silverado manufactured between 2019 and 2022.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this time.

Commentary

When someone loses their life on a highway in the dead of night, it’s natural to assume the story begins and ends with tragic timing. But too often, those surface details conceal deeper issues that demand a closer look. What was missed at the scene? What role might the vehicle itself have played? And has all the evidence even been collected?

Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Crashes involving pedestrians on interstates, especially after commercial vehicle collisions, require an investigative approach far beyond standard protocol. In cases like this, it's crucial to know whether investigators reconstructed the sequence of events with any real precision. Did they account for how the first crash unfolded, why the driver exited his truck when he did and how visible he was at that moment? Complex cases like these call for officers with specialized reconstruction skills, yet too often, such scenes are cleared before every angle gets the attention it needs.

Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? When a hit-and-run involves a vehicle like a Silverado, it's easy to assume a reckless driver and stop there. But that kind of thinking can overlook less obvious possibilities, like whether the passing vehicle suffered from faulty headlights, steering issues or even a braking failure. When the responsible driver isn’t on hand to offer context, inspecting the suspected vehicle for defects becomes even more important. Has that been considered here?

Has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected? In a hit-and-run, electronic data can fill in gaps that witnesses and cameras can't. Did authorities tap into traffic cameras, commercial dash cams or GPS logs from the nearby trucks? More importantly, if and when the Silverado is found, will anyone retrieve the data from its onboard systems to verify speed, braking or lane position? These digital breadcrumbs are often the only way to reconstruct what truly happened.

When the facts are this sparse, it’s not about jumping to conclusions; it’s about asking the questions that keep a case from going cold. The pieces of the truth are out there, but only if someone’s looking hard enough to find them.

Key Takeaways:

• Investigators need to map out every step of what happened, especially when two collisions are involved.
• Mechanical issues in the suspect vehicle can’t be ruled out just because the driver fled.
• Digital data from nearby vehicles or traffic systems may be the key to understanding the crash.