Cobb County, GA — February 27, 2025, two people were injured in a truck accident at about 10:50 a.m. on southbound Interstate 75.

Authorities said a pickup hauling a trailer loaded with wooden pallets crashed into the back of a semi-truck near Delk Road. The impact trapped the pickup under the semi's trailer, as a traffic camera showed pallets scattered on the road.

Two people inside the pickup were extricated by emergency personnel and hospitalized with serious injuries, according to authorities. The semi-truck driver was not injured.

Authorities said the pickup was following too closely before the collision.

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

Commentary

Crashes where a smaller vehicle rear-ends a semi-truck are often assumed to be the fault of the trailing driver, and in this case, authorities have already suggested that the pickup was following too closely. While that may be true, a proper investigation should go beyond surface-level conclusions and examine why the crash happened in the first place.

One key factor is whether the semi-truck slowed or stopped suddenly. Was it reacting to congestion, construction or another incident ahead? If the truck’s speed changed abruptly, the pickup driver may not have had enough time to react. Investigators should consider traffic conditions leading up to the crash to determine whether the pickup’s driver was solely at fault or if other factors contributed.

Visibility is also a concern. A trailer full of wooden pallets could have limited the pickup driver’s view of the road ahead, making it harder to anticipate braking. If cargo obstruction played a role, that’s something worth considering.

Finally, the severity of the crash raises the question of underride protection. Semi-trailers are required to have underride guards to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath in a rear-end collision. Did those guards function properly, or did the pickup become trapped due to inadequate protection? If the trailer failed to prevent a more serious outcome, that’s something investigators should examine closely.

At this stage, it’s too early to say exactly what went wrong. But if authorities stop at the simple explanation without considering stopping distance, visibility, traffic flow and underride protection, they could miss critical details that could provide answers for those affected by this crash. A thorough investigation should consider every contributing factor.