Three Seriously Injured After Car Crosses Into Oncoming Lane and Strikes Garbage Truck on Highway 155 in Henry County, Georgia

Three people were hospitalized with serious injuries Friday [insert date] after a sedan crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a garbage truck on Highway 155 (GA-155) in Henry County, Georgia. According to the Georgia State Patrol, a brown Mercury Grand Marquis was traveling northbound near Old Griffin Road at approximately 3 p.m. when the driver failed to maintain their lane. The car entered the southbound lane and struck the front of a southbound Republic Services trash truck. Both vehicles were severely damaged, and debris and skid marks stretched across the roadway near Jonesboro Road and the Henry Parkway Connector, east of I-75. Emergency personnel transported the driver and passenger of the Grand Marquis to Grady Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the garbage truck was taken to Piedmont Henry Hospital, also with serious injuries. A viewer at the scene reported seeing a Life Flight helicopter, along with multiple McDonough Fire Department trucks and ambulances. Law enforcement closed Highway 155 in both directions to clear the wreckage and investigate, bringing surrounding traffic to a standstill. The names of those involved have not been released. The cause remains under investigation, and no further updates on the victims' conditions or the roadway reopening were available at the time of reporting.

Location and Infrastructure

The crash occurred on Highway 155, a north-south route through Henry County that carries local commuters, commercial vehicles, and traffic connecting to nearby communities and Interstate 75. The area near Old Griffin Road, Jonesboro Road, and the Henry Parkway Connector lies east of I-75 and close to McDonough, the county seat. Corridors like this often see a mix of passenger cars, delivery vehicles, and heavy trucks, and a closure can quickly back up traffic on surrounding roads, as it did here. Reports did not specify the roadway's lane configuration, posted speed limit, traffic control devices, lighting, or weather and pavement conditions at the time of the crash, and none of these has been identified as a contributing factor. Drivers should check Georgia 511 for real-time closure and detour information.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Georgia is an at-fault state, meaning the party responsible for a crash is generally liable for resulting damages. Georgia law requires drivers to keep their vehicles within a single lane (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-48), and violations may be relevant when determining negligence. Under Georgia's modified comparative negligence rule (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33), a person found 50 percent or more at fault may be barred from recovery. Drivers must carry minimum liability coverage, and commercial vehicles are often covered by separate commercial policies. Injured people may also have uninsured/underinsured motorist or medical payments coverage. Georgia generally sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33), with different deadlines possible for property damage or claims involving government entities. Potential compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering. This information is general and not legal advice; individual circumstances vary.

Related Resources

Emergency services and crash information

• Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Public Safety: dps.georgia.gov
• Henry County Fire Rescue and McDonough Fire Department: through the Henry County and City of McDonough government websites
• Piedmont Henry Hospital: piedmont.org
• Grady Memorial Hospital: gradyhealth.org

Traffic safety and road conditions

• Georgia 511 (real-time traffic and closures): 511ga.org
• Georgia Department of Transportation: dot.ga.gov
• Governor's Office of Highway Safety: gohs.georgia.gov
• Georgia Department of Driver Services (Driver's Manual and rules of the road): dds.georgia.gov

Support for accident victims

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
• Georgia Crisis & Access Line: 1-800-715-4225
• Georgia Department of Insurance Consumer Services: oci.georgia.gov

State laws and regulations

• Official Code of Georgia Annotated (Title 40, Motor Vehicles and Traffic; Title 33, Insurance): legis.ga.gov